3-31. REMOVAL OF IMPACTED TEETH
a. General. Impacted teeth are those that are so located and inclined within bone
that they fail to erupt and cannot erupt normally. Impacted teeth may be completely
embedded or partially erupted. Mandibular third molars (wisdom teeth) are the most
commonly impacted teeth. Impaction of other teeth may occur, with the maxillary third
molars and cuspids most frequently observed. Supernumerary teeth, retained roots, and
foreign bodies embedded in the jaws present problems of location and removal similar to
those encountered with impacted teeth. Surgical extraction involving bone removal is
often necessary.
b. Instrument Setup. The instrument setup for the removal of impacted teeth is
similar to that for surgical extraction and bone removal.
3-32. PREPARING INSTRUMENT SETUPS
A working knowledge of oral surgical procedures is a necessity for the dental
specialist. The nature of the work done in oral surgery requires that everything that may
be needed during an operation be available immediately. The dental officer will be at the
chair-side with the patient; therefore, it is imperative that the specialist understands the
operation and is able to recognize instruments in order to save time.
a. Variation in Procedures. Procedures followed in sterilizing, storing, and
preparing instruments for oral surgery will depend upon the desires of the oral surgeon,
the extent and volume of surgery done, and the facilities available, so far as they adhere
to principles prescribed in FM 8-38. Some oral surgery services have sterilizing facilities
adequate to handle all their needs; others must depend upon medical service sterilizing
facilities for autoclaving. Some oral surgeons have complete sets of instruments and
materials autoclaved in packs to meet the needs of each commonly performed surgical
procedure. Some have the items sterilized and stored separately but have them
assembled into sets before each operation. Others have just the minimum number of
instruments set out and additional ones obtained as needed. In some oral surgery
services, the sterile items are stored in cabinets. In others, they are stored on shelves or
on tables covered with sterile drapes. In any case, aseptic procedures must be carefully
followed to maintain sterility. Scrupulous cleanliness of the oral surgical suite is an
b. Steps of Procedure. In arranging the surgical tray or other work areas, the
first step is to drape the area with sterile (autoclaved) towels. The next step is to lay out
the instruments and other materials in the order in which they are to be used. The final
step is to cover the setup with a sterile towel until the dental officer is ready for its use.
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