Vital root retention: a clinical procedure.

Retention of vital roots retards the resorption of residual alveolar ridges under complete dentures. It also eliminates the patient's responsibility of maintaining the periodontal health of overdenture abutments. The procedure involves (1) preparing the teeth to be retained from a periodontal standpoint to reduce the possibility of contamination of the surgical site, (2) removing hopeless teeth, (3) sectioning and contouring the teeth so that the retained roots are contiguous with the crestal bone, (4) preparing and suturing labial and lingual flaps to cover the prepared roots and maintain proper vestibular depth, and (5) placing an immediate denture relined with tissue-conditioning material.