My dentist had trouble extracting my top left first molar, so part of the root broke. She referred me to an oral surgeon, and I am scheduled to remove the rest of the root in late June. Is this necessary, or can I leave the root fragment as is? Will it hurt anything? Thanks. Korey

Korey,

If a tooth isn’t easy to remove, a tooth root may break during an extraction. Your dentist realized she left the root fragment and responsibly referred you to an oral surgeon. Hopefully, in the future, your dentist will anticipate the challenges for an extraction patient and determine when it’s best to refer them to an oral surgeon for tooth removal.

If a root fragment is too long, bone can grow around it, making it more challenging to remove. Follow-up care should be in a few days.

The roots of the upper first molars are close to the sinus wall and can perforate the wall. The surgery requires adeptness to avoid additional complications. Allowing extended healing will increase the risk of perforation.

We recommend getting a second opinion from another oral surgeon about the timing of the root fragment removal. Another oral surgeon may recommend leaving a small fragment that’s close to the sinus wall. Otherwise, they will likely remove it as quickly as possible.

If you are considering a dental implant to replace your first molar, discuss it with the oral surgeon to determine whether you need bone grafting first.

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