title: Root Fragment Vitality After Coronectomy: Histological Evidence in a Case.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coronectomy is a well-documented surgical technique for the treatment of high-risk third molars, but the fate of retained roots remains controversial. This case report describes the histologic analysis of retained root fragments.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 44-year-old man treated with coronectomy of a left mandibular third molar requested the extraction of the retained roots. The patient was asymptomatic and the retained roots were extracted 18 months after coronectomy at the patient's request.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The extracted roots were histologically evaluated and the results showed the presence of vital pulp tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histologic analysis showed that retained roots remain vital after coronectomy.
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: elisabetta.vignudelli@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vignudelli
authors.affiliation: Visiting Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.affiliation: Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mazzoni
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marchetti
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*