Vital root amputation. A clinical and histological study.

An investigation was designed to study the clinical and histological effects of delaying endodontic therapy for a period of 2 weeks without dressing of the exposed pulp, after vital intentional root amputation had been carried out on periodontally involved teeth. From the results obtained it was possible to conclude that: 1. Endodontics, prior to surgical root amputation, remains the treatment of choice. 2. When preoperative endodontics is not possible, the approach used in this study will provide good results without severe, adverse clinical or histological effects. 3. The altered periodontal condition and tooth form do not interfere with the performance of definitive endodontics 2 weeks after surgery. 4. Definitive preparation of the cut tooth surface at the time of root amputation facilitates maintenance of oral hygiene after removal of the periodontal dressings. 5. The high percentage of involvement of the distobuccal root of the first maxillary molar in periodontal situations requiring correction by root amputation, may be due to the anatomy of this root.