title: Coronectomy in patients with high risk of inferior alveolar nerve injury diagnosed by computed tomography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Previous studies have suggested coronectomy as an alternative procedure to decrease the risk of inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) injury when there are high-risk findings observed on panoramic radiographs. However, the exact relation between the inferior alveolar canal and the roots is not obvious on 2-dimensional imaging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success of coronectomy by comparing it with conventional extraction for the treatment of the patients who had clear IAN injury risks that were determined on 3 dimensions by computed tomography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and sixteen teeth of 124 patients were evaluated by computed tomography and 175 teeth of 120 patients were enrolled in the study. Teeth were divided into an extraction group (n = 87) and a coronectomy group (n = 88) according to the operations planned.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean follow-up time of the study was 17.29 months. There were 2 patients in the extraction group who had moderate IAN injuries that resolved in 1 month. Also 1 case of dry socket was observed in the extraction group and 1 patient in the coronectomy group had minor infection 1 month postoperatively, which was treated with antibiotics and subgingival irrigations. There were 2 failed coronectomies and neither had any postoperative complications. No cases of lingual nerve injury were noted in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coronectomy appears to be a preferable alternative with a low incidence of complications and therefore a suggested technique for the treatment of impacted mandibular molars when there is a high risk of IAN injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Kocaeli, Kocaeli, Turkey. ulkem.cilasun@kocaeli.edu.tr
authors.forename: Ulkem
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cilasun
authors.forename: Tulin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Esra
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guzeldemir
authors.forename: Zafer Ozgur
authors.initials: ZO
authors.lastname: Pektas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020209:Cranial Nerve Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000601:surgery*; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D061221:Trigeminal Nerve Injuries