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What Is Dental Coronectomy?

A coronectomy is a dental procedure that’s done in certain situations as an alternative to having a wisdom tooth extraction.

A coronectomy can be done when a dentist feels there’s an increased risk of injury to the inferior dental nerve. It may also be considered safer than an extraction in people over 40, according to some researchers.

Coronectomy vs. extraction

A standard wisdom tooth extraction will remove the entire tooth, and sometimes all four are removed at once. A coronectomy will remove the crown of the tooth and leave the tooth’s roots in your jaw, intact.

A coronectomy isn’t recommended if the wisdom tooth or root is infected.

Both procedures may be done by a dentist or oral surgeon. Your dentist will likely decide on one procedure over the other depending on factors such as your age and likelihood of nerve damage.

Why have a coronectomy?

Sometimes the wisdom teeth roots are close to, press on, or even wrap around your lingual nerve (LN) or inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), the nerves that supply feeling to your tongue, lips, and chin.

In situations like this, your dentist or oral surgeon might recommend a coronectomy as an option that could lower risk for potential nerve damage as compared to an extraction.

Damage to your LN and IAN might result in:

pain or odd sensations in your lower lip, lower teeth, lower jaw, or chin

difficulties speaking

difficulties chewing

loss of taste

According to a 2015 reviewTrusted Source, extracting a wisdom tooth with roots near the IAN can cause direct or indirect damage to the nerve. Coronectomy in that situation can be a safe procedure that’s associated with a low incidence of injury to the lingual or inferior alveolar nerves.

According to other research from 2015Trusted Source, a coronectomy is preferable to extraction for preventing neurological damage when roots are near the IAN.

What to expect following a coronectomy

Following your coronectomy, you’ll probably have some swelling and discomfort, although usually less than you would after a full extraction.

Your dentist will provide aftercare instructions and might prescribe antibiotics, although the risks of postoperative infection and dry socket is reduced as compared to extraction.

As with any dental procedure, if you notice any signs of infection, excessive bleeding, or other unusual symptoms, you should call your dentist or oral surgeon.

When a coronectomy isn’t recommended

Typically a coronectomy is used when the tooth that needs to be removed has roots that are near important nerves. There are specific situations when a coronectomy is usually not recommended, such as:

the tooth is growing horizontally along the IAN

the tooth is infected

the tooth is loose.

(03/12/2021)
by Health Line

More Information: https://www.healthline.com/health/coronectomy#aftercare

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