Association between radiographic classification and surgical technique in extractions of third lower molars

Abstract

Introduction: establish an association between the radiographic classification and the surgical technique related to the lower third molars. Materials and method: a retrospective study was carried out, with the descriptive analysis of the data. The sample consisted of 100 patients (n = 100) from the spontaneous demand who sought out the Dental Clinic of UFC (Ceará’s Federal University) – Campus Sobral, between december 2017 to july 2018, and who followed the inclusion criteria: patient with panoramic radiography, free of active periodontal disease and tooth with at least two thirds of root formation; and as exclusion criteria: patients with associated bone pathologies, teeth with less than two thirds of root formation and patients who did not wish to participate in the study. Results: patients included in the study were from 18 to 25 years of age, most of them male, with complaints of pain. Using the radiographic classification of Pell & Gregory, the most found positions were 1A (35%), 2B (28%) and 2A (17%). The most prevalent surgical techniques were the open ones. Could be done the extraction by closed surgical technique (forceps or lever) (n = 27), with flap preparation plus osteotomy (OST) (n = 25) and flap plus osteotomy plus odontostomy (ODS) (n = 48). Conclusion: teeth with radiographic classification, grade of inclusion and different preoperative plans had the same protocol (flap + OST + ODS) in the surgical act. It is evident that radiographic classification stills an effective method to aid in operative planning, but it can be complemented by other diagnostic standards, such as a specific classification of the root anatomy.