title: Coronectomy of Deeply Impacted Lower Third Molar: Incidence of Outcomes and Complications after One Year Follow-Up.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of present study was to assess the surgical management of impacted third molar with proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve and complications associated with coronectomy in a series of patients undergoing third molar surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  The position of the mandibular canal in relation to the mandibular third molar region and mandibular foramen in the front part of the mandible (i.e., third molar in close proximity to the inferior alveolar nerve [IAN] or not) was identified on panoramic radiographs of patients scheduled for third molar extraction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Close proximity to the IAN was observed in 64 patients (35 females, 29 males) with an impacted mandibular third molar. Coronectomy was performed in these patients. The most common complication was tooth migration away from the mandibular canal (n = 14), followed by root exposure (n = 5). Re-operation to remove the root was performed in cases with periapical infection and root exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that coronectomy can be considered a reasonable and safe treatment alternative for patients who demonstrate elevated risk for injury to the inferior alveolar nerve with removal of the third molars. Coronectomy did not increase the incidence of damage to the inferior alveolar nerve and would be safer than complete extraction in situations in which the root of the mandibular third molar overlaps or is in close proximity to the mandibular canal.
authors.affiliation: OMFS-IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven Belgium. ; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Genk Belgium.
authors.forename: Jimoh Olubanwo
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Agbaje
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Genk Belgium.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heijsters
authors.affiliation: OMFS-IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven Belgium. ; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Genk Belgium.
authors.forename: Ahmed Sobhy
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.affiliation: OMFS-IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven Belgium.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Van Slycke
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Genk Belgium. ; Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent Belgium.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schepers
authors.affiliation: OMFS-IMPATH Research Group, Department of Imaging and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University Leuven, Leuven Belgium. ; Faculty of Medicine, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek Belgium.
authors.forename: Constantinus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Politis
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, St. John's Hospital, Genk Belgium.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vrielinck
keywords: complications; impacted tooth; inferior alveolar nerve; oral surgery; third molar