Abstract

The most important aspect of impacted mandibular third molar surgery or in complicated exodontia is removal of roots. Based on our clinical experience, we modified the cryer elevator and compared with normal cryer elevator during surgical removal of roots in bilateral symmetrical impacted mandibular third molars. Therefore, a randomised single blind clinical trial was designed to analyze the efficacy of modified cryer elevator. Thirty-six patients with bilateral identical impacted lower third molars requiring surgical removal, under local anaesthesia, were included. A standard surgical protocol was followed. Roots were removed using Cryer elevator on one side and modified cryer elevator on the other. The ease of the removal of roots (easy, moderate and difficult) and time interval from the start of buccal guttering until removal of roots out of the socket were noted. The difference in ease of removal of roots (p =0.03) and duration (p<0.001) was statistically significant between the two elevators. We conclude use of modified cryer elevator is effective in surgical extraction of impacted mandibular third molars

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