Abstract
AIM: The study was intended to evaluate the effectiveness of piezosurgery in enucleation of radicular odontogenic cysts in comparison to the conventional technique.
METHODS: Fourteen patients who had radicular cysts associated with non-vital teeth, were operated at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University. The patients were randomly divided into 2 groups;1) the study group in which cyst enucleation was using piezosurgery, 2) control group in which the cysts were removed using the conventional technique. The following were assessed; operation time, hemorrhage control and field visibility, ease of operation, neurosensory evaluation and radiographic percentage of change in bone defect volume.
RESULTS: The piezosurgery group showed a statistically significant control over heamorrhage and a clearer, more visible field when compared to the conventional group. The difference between the times required for cyst enucleation in both groups was statistically significant, with longer time recorded with piezosurgery. No complications were observed with the piezosurgery technique. However, with the conventional technique, 2 patients complained of neurosensory involvement which was resolved over time. Also, with piezosurgery, there was a significant reduction of bone defect volume than the conventional surgery, 3 months after the operation in comparison to the preoperative baseline value.
CONCLUSIONS: Piezosurgery proved to be more effective for cyst enucleation than the conventional method. The piezosurgery was more efficient for preserving important anatomical structures while providing a clearer field of surgery. Also, better early healing potential of the bone defect resulting from cyst enucleation was detected.