Sir, I write in response to the paper by Renton (BDJ 2012; 212: 323–326) on the topic of coronectomy. There is a resurgence of interest in this technique and two teams at GKT Dental Institute are proponents of the idea. The relevance of coronectomy is that it seems to reduce the risk of inferior dental nerve (IDN) injury to near zero and although potentially important clinically the main reverberation lies in the medico-legal arena. Already expert reports are claiming this technique is the treatment of choice for high-risk third molars (with roots that cross the IDN). Professor Renton is very knowledgeable on the topic of coronectomy and her article points out how very little has been written on the topic and even less scientific analysis undertaken to validate the technique and its use with CBCT. The current information on the appropriate use of coronectomy and CBCT really relies on experience and seems insufficient to form a balanced medico-legal argument. A national prospective randomised trial has been designed that should answer these questions and clearly establish what surgical technique should be used and when. Only then will the true place of coronectomy in a surgeon's armamentarium be known.

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