Minor Oral Surgery Techniques for fractured teeth and retained roots Flashcards
List 7 potential reasons why teeth might fracture.
Thick cortical bone
Root shape
Root number
Hypercementosis
Ankylosis
Caries
Alignment
What are the three key components of assessing a tooth for surgical intervention?
History
Clinical evaluation
Radiographic evaluation
What specific details should a dentist explain to a patient before a tooth extraction procedure?
Procedure steps in lay terms
Expected sensations (pressure, not pain)
Potential actions like:
Lifting the gum
Possible drilling (using same drill as for fillings)
Water from the drill
Potential need for stitches
Warning about possible damage to adjacent teeth
List all potential post-operative complications patients should be warned about.
Pain
Swelling
Bruising
Jaw stiffness
Bleeding
Dry socket
Infection (unusual)
Nerve damage risk (numbness)
Temporary
Permanent
Altered sensation
What are the key principles of minimizing trauma during oral surgery?
Maximal access with minimal trauma
Bigger flaps heal as quickly as smaller ones
Use wide-based incision to maintain circulation
Use scalpel in one firm continuous stroke
Avoid sharp angles
Create adequate sized flap
Minimize trauma to dental papillae
Reflect flap down to bone cleanly
Avoid crushing tissue
Keep tissue moist
Ensure flap margins and sutures lie on sound bone
Avoid closing wounds under tension
Aim for healing by primary intention to minimize scarring
What are the primary goals of soft tissue retraction and list three tools used for this purpose?
Goals:
Access to operative field
Protection of soft tissues
Facilitated by flap design
Tools:
Howarth’s periosteal elevator
Bowdler-Henry Retractor (Rake)
Minnesota retractor
Describe the three key steps in surgical debridement.
Physical Debridement:
Use bone file or handpiece to remove sharp bony edges
Use Mitchell’s trimmer or Victoria curette to remove soft tissue debris
Irrigation:
Use sterile saline/water in socket and under flap
Suction:
Aspirate under flap to remove debris
Check socket for retained apices
What are the primary aims of suturing during oral surgery?
Reposition tissues
Cover bone
Prevent wound breakdown
Achieve haemostasis
Encourage healing by primary intention
Compare and contrast resorbable and non-resorbable sutures with their specific types.
Resorbable Sutures:
Monofilament: e.g., MONOCRYL™ (poliglecaprone 25)
Multifilament: e.g., VICRYL RAPIDE™ (polyglactin 910)
Non-Resorbable Sutures:
Monofilament: e.g., PROLENE™ (polypropylene)
Multifilament: e.g., Mersilk™ (black silk)
Describe both peri-operative and post-operative haemostasis methods.
Peri-operative Methods:
Local anesthetic with vasoconstrictor
Artery forceps
Diathermy
Bone wax
Post-operative Methods:
Pressure
Local anesthetic with vasoconstrictor
Diathermy
Whitehead’s Varnish Pack (Iodoform, Gum Benzoin, Storax, Balsam Tolu, Ethyl Ether)
Surgicel
Sutures
