Tooth-preserving surgeries. Methods to prevent tooth destruction and loss

The key to healthy teeth is proper and competent treatment, timely consultation with a specialist, and detailed professional dental care using optical equipment – an innovative microscope, which provides a 100% guarantee of a successful result. It is very important not to let the situation reach an advanced stage, when it is truly necessary to save the tooth and resort to urgent measures. In the past, any problematic tooth was subject to extraction because specialists did not particularly strive to preserve the patient’s tooth. Fortunately, with today’s modern technologies and methods, tooth extraction is performed only in the most extreme cases, unlike before. Therefore, modern dentistry includes procedures known as tooth-preserving surgeries.

Tooth-preserving surgeries are a modern branch of surgical dentistry aimed at maintaining the integrity of dental tissues and preventing tooth destruction and loss. These procedures are designed to maximize the avoidance and prevention of tooth damage and loss. The only condition for performing a tooth-preserving surgery is a timely visit to a specialist. If a patient sees a dentist on time, there is a high chance to take all necessary measures to prevent tooth destruction and loss. In other words, such surgeries must have specific indications for their implementation. If the case is too advanced, unfortunately, tooth-preserving surgeries are not a panacea for avoiding extraction and loss. A unique and distinguishing feature of tooth-preserving surgeries is that they are mostly performed in an area of the tooth unfamiliar to the patient – at the root.

Timely surgical intervention also helps prevent the development of inflammatory processes in the bone tissue and avoids bone loss, as inflammation has a destructive effect on the bone. Such procedures belong to surgical dentistry and should be performed exclusively by a dental surgeon.

Tooth-preserving surgeries are considered complex and atypical procedures that carry certain risks. This is because alveolar nerves and nasal sinuses are often located near the tooth root. Therefore, if the specialist is not qualified or lacks the necessary skills, serious complications may occur. That is why tooth-preserving surgical procedures must be performed by a highly qualified dental surgeon. Additionally, if necessary, these procedures may also include elements of endodontic and periodontal treatment. Tooth-preserving surgeries should not intimidate the patient, as such procedures are performed exclusively under anesthesia, eliminating discomfort and pain during the process.

Tooth-preserving surgeries include:

• • Hemisection – a procedure to remove part of a multi-rooted tooth and its root when treatment is impossible. The remaining part of the tooth is used for further procedures to restore the dental row. This also allows part of the tooth to be used as a support for subsequent prosthetics.

  • Flap surgeries – a type of surgical intervention effective for periodontal diseases. These procedures help prevent further destruction of bone tissue and the ligaments that hold the teeth.

  • Root apex resection – a type of tooth-preserving surgery for a single-rooted tooth, in which the upper part of the affected root is removed, tissue decay products are extracted, and the resulting cavity is filled with bone material. This procedure fully preserves the tooth’s strength and allows it to be used for further prosthetics.

  • Cystectomy – a procedure that allows complete removal of a cyst or granuloma. Usually, alongside this surgical procedure, root apex resection is performed, after which the empty space is filled with artificial bone tissue.

  • Corono-radicular separation – allows treatment of advanced caries in the area where the roots of a multi-rooted tooth diverge.

  • Replantation – a procedure in which the dentist fixes the tooth back into the socket after it has been removed, dislocated, or knocked out. This procedure restores the tooth and is used for single-rooted teeth.

  • Root amputation – a procedure in which the dentist removes the damaged root of a multi-rooted tooth. The crown remains intact and fully retains its aesthetic and chewing functions.

Advantages of tooth-preserving surgeries:

• • Provides the opportunity to preserve the natural tooth and ensure its full functionality.

  • The patient does not experience problems with improper distribution of chewing load on the jaw.

  • Fast healing and recovery of the operated area.

  • The restored tooth can be used as a natural support for further prosthetics.

  • No periapical bone tissue atrophy.

  • The possibility to prevent further destruction that could lead to tooth loss.

Indications for performing tooth-preserving procedures:

• • Therapeutic dental treatment does not provide positive treatment outcomes.

  • Poorly treated canals have caused inflammation of soft tissues and the formation of a tooth cyst or abscess.

  • Formation of a pathological cavity in the center of the tooth.

  • Lesions of the crown and root system of the tooth that cannot be treated or corrected with conservative therapeutic methods.

Contraindications for performing tooth-preserving surgeries:

• • Patient immunodepressive conditions

  • Blood clotting disorders

  • Heart diseases

  • Acute respiratory diseases

  • Pregnancy

  • Exacerbation of chronic diseases

  • Tooth mobility

  • Fused tooth roots

  • Presence of cracks

  • Advanced stage periodontal diseases

Conclusion. For teeth affected by caries and inflammatory processes, tooth-preserving surgeries provide a unique opportunity to save the tooth from destruction and loss and significantly extend its functionality. HOWEVER, the existence of tooth-preserving surgeries does not mean that a tooth can be saved in any condition. If contraindications are present, the procedures are not performed; therefore, specialists at the “Sa-Nata” network recommend that patients regularly attend consultations, treat their teeth on time, not ignore preventive check-ups and procedures, and generally take careful care of their dental health. Remember, prevention is the best treatment! It is better, simpler, faster, and cheaper than saving or extracting a tooth.

For performing tooth-preserving surgeries, the “Sa-Nata” clinic network uses effective and modern surgical methods. At “Sa-Nata,” you are in the reliable hands of true professionals!