An Alternative to Periotomes?
There are a number of pricey gadgets on the market, including the Easy X-TRAC® System pictured here, for atraumatically extracting teeth which claim to offer advantages over traditional or periotome extractions.
The goal is to destroy or remove as little bone as possible to preserve the extraction site for a dental implant. These newer dental instruments utilize sort of a cork-screw mechanism to pull the tooth out of the socket, leaving much of the cortical plates intact.
For example the sales material for Easy X-Trac claims: "The Easy X-TRAC® technique allows you to execute an absolute atraumatic extraction with no rotary movements, zero bone loss, and no post-traumatic swelling. It also gives you the ability to perform an efficient extraction that minimizes patient discomfort and provides you the opportunity to successfully place immediate implants."
Has anybody used any of these new gadgets or techniques? Do they really work that much better that traditional or periotome extractions?
Comments
I have used The Easy X-Tracta. It is cumbersome, and is only good for single rooted teeth that still have intact root structure. I stiil prefer the periotome extraction.
Posted by: implant doc | May 9, 2006 05:14 PM
This looks like it would be fantastic for moble, perio involved teeth!
Posted by: Dr D | May 9, 2006 05:28 PM
I've used it, and returned it. It is difficult to use, and only works well from pre-molar to anterior teeth, and will not work well in deeply-rooted teeth in solid bone. It also took about 6 months and many calls to get a credit for what was promised would be "no problem".
Posted by: Dr. S. | May 9, 2006 06:20 PM
i do have different experience that the previous doctors. i have extracted about 12 teeth (roots) from premolar to anterior teeth and i dont know why i was wasting my time with the periotomes. sometimes it takes forever to extract a root with periotome and if you are too aggresive you can see the thin buccal bone fracturing. i have been very happy using the easy x-trac and so are a couple of friends that use it. a disadvantage is that is quite expensive 2500$ and that if the tooth have a post that you can not remove then you are not able to use this system. Although does not solve any extraction problem it works very well and it is as atraumatic as possible on single rooted teeth. You still need the periotomes on your extraction kit.
Posted by: yianni | May 9, 2006 11:06 PM
It is so easier to do it with the periotome technique . the only point to remember is to use the periotome progressively till the apex on all the surfaces of the root. It is obviously cheaper and you do not apply pressure on the thin buccal wall
Posted by: zeinou | May 10, 2006 08:03 AM
I agree with yianni. The device does permit extraction with no alveolar bone loss (and has been particularly helpful in areas of extremely thin buccal alveolar bone). I do have a problem with the fact that the wrench (as provided) is NOT a ratchet-type wrench, but is designed in a manner whereby the surgoen must remove the wrench with each turn, and replace it onto the pin that is being placed (this allows for "wobble" in the pin- which can widen the insertion hole and cause the pin to pull out easily). Creating a ratchet mechanism isn't rocket science, and it seemingly should have been included in the kit. Overall, however, I do feel that the kit is very useful, and I have greatly minimized my use of periotomes.
Posted by: burt | May 10, 2006 11:47 AM
To all easy x trac users please note a fully functional ratchet is available free of charge by contacting A.Titan at 877-284-8261. Coming in July a sterilization tray will be available.
Posted by: Michael | June 7, 2006 04:59 PM
Who needs such a "tool" to extract a tooth. I take out in the area of forty teeth a day and using the correct technique and well designed forceps I can preserve bone height as well. I mean come on, how many people bought espresso machines and don't use them.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 21, 2006 08:35 AM