An Alternative to Periotomes?

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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?

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14 Responses to “ An Alternative to Periotomes? ”

  • implant doc May 9th, 2006

    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.

  • Dr D May 9th, 2006

    This looks like it would be fantastic for moble, perio involved teeth!

  • Dr. S. May 9th, 2006

    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”.

  • yianni May 9th, 2006

    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.

  • zeinou May 10th, 2006

    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

  • burt May 10th, 2006

    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.

  • Michael June 7th, 2006

    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.

  • Anonymous July 21st, 2006

    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.

  • John Y. Kwan, DDS June 7th, 2007

    I have had the ezextrac for about 2 years now. When it works it makes your day. When the root splits putting in the screw, when the pressure from the complex cuts through the impression material and cracks the edge of the porcelain on an adjacent anterior tooth, or when there is so much decay in the canal you can’t get the screw in it doesn’t make your day…
    I don’t use it in the anterior when there are crowns adjacent anymore. I am more selective about using the ezextrac now. But I am glad to have this club in my bag.

  • Robert Holt DMD June 28th, 2007

    We have used the EZ X Ttract for more than two years and we bought a second one. When indicated, it is a great tool. There are some circumstances when it is not applicable, but we are very pleased to have it. When the canal is available and the root is relatively straight, there is no extraction technique that is less traumatic. We have experienced zero instances of damage to adjacent teeth.

  • John Clark May 18th, 2008

    Buy a benex. Doesn’t work all the time but with most single rooted teeth it works like a charm and the socket boney margin and gingival crest are undamaged.

  • Howard Kellogg DDS,MSD June 8th, 2008

    I am a dentist with the Indian Health Service. We extract a lot of teeth. I went to th GoldenMisch Physics Forcep. I did a field trail of 40 mandibular teeth. All teeth had an intact socket and were diagnosed as either irreversible pulpitis or abscess. My average was 68 seconds for extraction. The median was 50 seconds. The instrument can break buccal bone but the vigorous use of a Woodsen will help in the area. The instrument can be used on all mandibular teeth except 3rd molars. Most sockets are pretty much intact after the extraction. I would have no trouble placing an implant in these sockets.

  • DR. P February 15th, 2009

    In my opinion, the latest and by far the best entry in this atraumatic extraction area is the Sapian Root Remover System, which I am now using. It comes up if you Google on Sapian Root Remover System or check out the website www.sapianrd.com

    It provides much better results and is much simpler to use than the Easy-Xtrac, Benex, or other devices or techniques. When I bought mine, I was told that it has been adopted for teaching at some of the top dental schools, and is being used and publicly endorsed by people like Dr. Jaime Lozada, the recent president of the American Association of Implant Dentistry.

    And, it costs $1000 less than the Easy-Xtrac with the sterilization tray. It comes with a full year money back guarantee, and free telephone or e-mail consultation with Dr. Sapian regarding any special cases or usage issues. Hard to beat that deal.

  • Kelvin March 11th, 2009

    Golden Misch is offeringa 90-day FREE trial(less $200 re-stocking fee) on their Physics Forceps - can’t beat that

    For more info or to read carl Misch’s expalnation on this Class 1 lever visit

    http://www.surgicalsolutionsusa.com/goldm.html

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