Conservative endodontic microsurgery to protect critical anatomical structures--Selective curettage: A case series

Endodontic microsurgery has obtained highly successful outcomes in preserving teeth with persistent or recurrent periapical periodontitis that nonsurgical endodontic treatments do not work. To avoid complications in conditions that periapical lesions invade anatomical structures such as nasopalatine nerve tube, mandibular canal, selective curettage has been proposed as an alternative choice of complete curettage in surgery. This case series presented 8 cases, which underwent selective curettage for adjacent critical anatomical structures were involved in the periapical periodontitis radiographically, and those cases were confirmed as periapical cysts or granulomas by biopsy. At least 1 year’s clinical and radiographic follow-ups showed complete or incomplete healing in these cases with no adverse effects.