dentist working on a patient, inset of an ipad with teeth xrays

A common dilemma for interdisciplinary teams is deciding between saving some remaining teeth and incorporating them into a reconstruction comprised of teeth and implants or extracting remaining teeth and planning for an all-implant supported solution.

In his latest Spear Study Club module, “An Algorithm for Keeping or Extracting Remaining Teeth,” Dr. Ricardo Mitrani discusses how the interdisciplinary team is sometimes caught between these two treatment options, which may create confusion.

“You know, it is not uncommon for us to sit through lectures or (study club meetings) or even be a part of a discussion with colleagues and be somewhat puzzled about the rationale behind taking a certain route of treatment,” said Dr. Mitrani, a Spear Resident Faculty member based in Mexico City.

“So, the primary focus of this module is to reflect on this common dilemma and examine the thought process,” he said. “The module addresses a decision tree or algorithm that serves as a guidepost for either keeping or extracting remaining teeth.”

By showing this module, study club leaders demonstrate to members they're committed to interdisciplinary treatment planning, while club members learn a decision-making method, which aids in the execution and the success of cases with conditions that could easily be treated differently.

VIRTUAL STUDY CLUB: Spear Study Club now provides video conferencing and digital solutions to keep your interdisciplinary team connected.

In Dr. Mitrani's “Algorithm for Keeping or Extracting Remaining Teeth” module, the learning objectives include:

  • Define the terminal dentition
  • Name essential elements that should influence the decision-making process
  • Explain how to use a treatment planning algorithm for the remaining dentition
  • Discuss the different clinical steps needed to execute a case from start to finish

There is no simple answer when deciding to extract a patient's remaining teeth or salvaging what remains for reconstruction. Either way, communicating with the treatment team is crucial for case success, so having a shared method for decision-making makes these complicated cases straightforward.


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