Separation of the periodontal ligament for atraumatic tooth extraction

Over 20 million tooth extractions are performed each year in the United States (2). During this procedure, the surgeon uses a periotome to sever the ligaments anchoring the tooth to the jaw. However, this technique has proven to be traumatic to the patient's hard and soft tissue and can result in longer recovery time. Damage to the surrounding tissue also prolongs any further dental treatment and requires more time in the operating room. The Periolectric is a piezoelectric based device employing vibratory oscillations to separate the surrounding soft tissues from the tooth thereby minimizing the risk of trauma during extraction.