Partial Extraction Therapy: A Review of Human Clinical Studies

Abstract

Partial extraction therapy (PET) is a collective concept encompassing a group of surgical techniques including socket shield, root membrane, proximal shield, pontic shield and root submergence. PET utilizes the patient’s own root structure to maintain blood supply derived from the periodontal ligament complex in order to preserve the periodontium and peri-implant tissues during restorative and implant therapy. This review aims to summarize current knowledge regarding PET techniques and present a comprehensive evaluation of human clinical studies in the literature. Two independent reviewers conducted electronic and manual searches until January 1 st , 2021 in the following electronic bibliographic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and Dentistry & Oral Sciences Source. Grey literature was searched to identify additional candidates for potential inclusion. Articles were screened by a group of 4 reviewers using the Covidence software and synthesized. Systematic search of the literature yielded 5,714 results. 64 articles were selected for full-text assessment, of which, 42 eligible studies were included in the review. 12 studies were added to the synthesis after manual search of the reference lists. A total of 54 studies were examined in this review. In sum, PET techniques offer several clinical advantages: 1) preservation of buccal bone post-extraction and limitation of alveolar ridge resorption 2) mitigation of the need for invasive ridge augmentation procedures 3) soft tissue dimensional stability and high esthetic outcomes. Further randomized clinical studies with larger sample sizes are needed to improve understanding of the long-term clinical outcomes of PET.