[Coronectomy - A treatment option for mandibular third molars with a close anatomical relationship to the inferior alveolar nerve.].

Extractions of mandibular third molars are a common procedure in dental practice. In cases where a close anatomical relationship of the root and the inferior alveolar nerve exists, the risk of transient or even permanent nerve injury increases. Nerve injury is difficult to manage and symptoms may cause severe patient discomfort, i.e. lifelong dysesthesia, i.e. painful sensation of the lower lip and chin area on the affected side. An alternative surgical procedure is coronectomy, which has first been described 25 year ago. Instead of complete tooth removal only the crown is extracted and the root is intentionally left in situ. A lower incidence of inferior alveolar nerve injury has been found with coronectomy in case of high-risk mandibular third molars, as was shown in randomized controlled trials. Coronectomy is presented in detail with indications as well as contraindications. A patient case is shown and recent literature is discussed.