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Most often you may suffer from an extensive tooth infection that is confined only to its root. Traditional approach involved extraction of the affected tooth. But, currently, root amputation is the most preferred choice of treatment that helps save the tooth from unnecessary extraction.
This procedure holds good for multirooted teeth such as the molars. Our family dental care in Mitchell, SD will help you diagnose such tooth conditions and offer root amputation procedures if it is deemed necessary.
What is meant by root amputation?
Root amputation is a dental procedure that is aimed at saving your tooth from extraction when only one of the roots of a multirooted tooth is infected.
The remaining roots provide sufficient support and stability to the tooth in its socket and prevent tooth mobility.
This is an excellent alternative to extraction since it can retain a healthy tooth structure.
When is root amputation deemed necessary?
Root amputation is usually recommended only for healthy teeth with sound crown structure, healthy underlying gum tissues, and strong bone support.
Following are some of the reasons that lead to root amputation:
- Broken, fractured, or injured teeth and roots
- Bacterial colonization within the root structure
- Severe bone loss in a confined area due to periodontitis
- Severe tooth decay
How is the root amputation procedure performed?
Preparation
Your dentist will evaluate your tooth and perform root canal therapy under local anesthesia (a numbing agent) before proceeding with root amputation. This is because the procedure involves cutting the root tip deep down where the nerves and blood vessels connect, which may cause severe sensitivity during amputation.
Procedure
During root amputation, your dentist will make a small incision in the gum to expose the roots of the affected tooth. The root will be sectioned from the remaining tooth structure and the area will be thoroughly cleaned with a saline solution to remove residual bacteria. Your dentist will close the incision using sutures.
To finish off, your dentist will provide a temporary crown or a filling to secure the tooth.
Aftercare
You will be prescribed pain medications, antibiotics, and an antimicrobial mouth rinse post-root amputation.
Your sutures will be removed after 7 to 10 days once your gums heal. Your tooth is now ready for a permanent crown or filling.
Bottom line
Root amputations serve as an excellent alternative to unnecessary tooth extractions. This saves you from losing out on the tooth in addition to alleviating painful symptoms of tooth decay when the infection is confined to the root. However, this procedure is beneficial only for multirooted teeth.
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