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Pulp Remains Viable Following Vital Amputation of the Mesio‐Buccal Root of the Maxillary Fourth Premolar in Dogs
Author(s) -
Smith Mark M.,
Saunders Geoffrey K.,
Payne John T.,
Cox Charles F.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of periodontology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.036
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1943-3670
pISSN - 0022-3492
DOI - 10.1902/jop.1998.69.7.798
Subject(s) - dentistry , pulp (tooth) , medicine , premolar , buccal administration , amputation , crown (dentistry) , orthodontics , dentin , molar , surgery
V ital amputation of the mesio‐buccal root of the maxillary fourth premolar (P4) was performed bilaterally in 8 dogs. Histopathologic evaluation of the tooth structure revealed normal pulp in the remaining mesio‐buccal, mesio‐palatal, and distal roots and crown during a mean follow‐up period of 3.5 ± 1.9 months. Amputation site healing was characterized by a reparative dentin bridge produced by odontoid cells. Tunnel defects were observed in 13 of 16 (81%) dentin bridges. It is concluded that the pulp of a tri‐rooted, periodontal disease‐free tooth remains viable during a 6‐month period following vital root amputation. These results point to the intriguing possibility that this may also occur in humans, however, this needs to be directly tested in man. J Periodontol 1998;69:798–805 .