Editorship: Something like “Pulling Teeth!”

Whole tooth extraction is generally considered to be the treatment of choice for teeth with advanced feline external odontoclastic resorptive lesions. These teeth often have both a weakened, brittle crown and radicalar ankylosis. These two factors cause frustration and sometimes complications during attempts at extraction. This study investigated the alternative of intentionally leaving part or all of non-pathologic tooth roots in situ to prevent iatrogenic trauma to the patient, loss of alveolar bone, and prolonged healing of surgical defects. Fifty one roots from 23 teeth were radiographed 5–36 months following elective root retention; continued resorption without surrounding bony reaction was seen in almost all cases. In one cat, the roots retained normal periodontal ligament one year later; and in another cat that developed severe stomatitis, the intentionally retained roots were extracted at the same time that the remaining molar teeth were extracted.