Comparison of 2 Techniques for Removal of Displaced Root Fragments From the Mandibular Canal in Canine Cadavers

Tooth extraction is the most common oral surgical procedure performed in human and veterinary dentistry. One possible complication during extraction is root fragment displacement into adjacent anatomical spaces. Root fragment displacement into adjacent anatomical spaces can lead to serious side effects including pain and infection; therefore, displaced fragments should be removed when possible. Root fragment removal techniques from the mandibular canal have not been studied in veterinary or human dentistry. A reported complication of dental implant placement in humans is displacement into the mandibular canal, and techniques have been developed to remove these displaced implants. This report compares 2 techniques to remove displaced root fragments from the mandibular canal in canine cadavers based on previously published methods to remove displaced dental implants from the mandibular canal in humans.