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Procedures

Prophylactic odontotomy

Procedure overview

Learn about the dental procedure, when it is generally prescribed, and other information which can increase your knowledge of the topic.

Alternate terms: Fissurotomy.

Prophylactic odontotomy is a procedure in which the deep pits and fissures in a tooth are eliminated by widening the grooves with a cone shaped dental bur. After this procedure is done, the tooth will trap less bacteria-laden plaque, and what does collect can be easily removed with a toothbrush.

If the pits or fissures in the teeth cannot be completely cleaned with a toothbrush, intervention is suggested. Three methods of treating deep pits and fissures are reviewed on ToothIQ, of which prophylactic odontotomy is one (See "Treatment options").

Sectioned tooth shows fissure smaller than single toothbrush bristle

Figure 1: Pits and fissures in teeth may be too deep and narrow to allow access for even one toothbrush bristle.

Prophylactic odontotomy is often an excellent option for eliminating the problem of bacterial plaque accumulation in the deep pit and fissure anatomy in teeth. If the grooves can be eliminated without perforating the enamel shell, no sealant will need to be placed, and yet food will not easily collect. The dentist will still be able to check the teeth with an "explorer" and a "laser caries detection device" at checkups, as long as no sealant is in the tooth.

A prophylactic odontotomy can be performed quickly and painlessly, without special measures for moisture control. They are required to be done by dentists, because only a dentist is allowed to remove tooth structure (considered a surgical procedure). Therefore, they cannot legally be delegated to auxiliaries.