Dental CE Course: Preservation of Alveolar Bone and Gingival Architecture with New Instruments for Exodontia

The time-honored techniques of exodontia emphasize the use of forceps for most of the work of tooth removal. We are all familiar with the complications of forceps extraction, including fracture of the tooth or adjacent bone, which may then require elevation of a surgical flap and removal of bone to complete the procedure. A new design of exodontia instruments has been introduced that modifies the surgical procedure to minimize trauma to the extraction site. These instruments include periotomes and Proximators???-??, which loosen the tooth within the alveolus, and apical retention forceps, which grasp the root, to ease it out of the socket. These instruments are demonstrated, and typical cases are illustrated.