Cutting the periodontal ligament in dog and cat extractions: where a ligament saw fits

Whether a tooth comes out in one piece or as sectioned roots, every extraction depends on releasing the periodontal ligament (PDL) – the fibres that attach the root to the alveolar bone. This page summarises what veterinary dentistry sources say about that step in dogs and cats and where a thin ligament-cutting instrument such as the NiTi Perio Saw® fits. It is an overview for veterinarians, not a technique course. The same principles apply to human extraction; for the human dental edition of the instrument, see NiTi Perio Saw® for human dentistry.

Why the ligament is cut first

Extraction instruments work in the PDL space. Thin instruments cut the ligament attachments; elevators stretch and tear the fibres with sustained tension [1][2]. The aim is a mobile tooth that forceps can remove with little force, with bone removal kept as the last resort [1].

Closed and open extraction (X, XS, XSS)

The American Veterinary Dental College nomenclature separates closed extraction of a tooth without sectioning (X), closed extraction with sectioning (XS) and open extraction (XSS) [3]. Ligament cutting applies to every root in all three: in a sectioned tooth, each root segment has its own ligament to release.

A least-traumatic sequence

Current teaching recommends a gentle, progressive approach: begin with the least traumatic instrument and escalate only if necessary [1]. Pre-extraction radiographs matter here, because they show whether a PDL space is present at all [1]. A board-certified veterinary dentist starts loosening the root with a thin, flat ligament-cutting instrument, especially on flatter root surfaces, and chooses winged elevators by root diameter [4]. Luxating elevators cut efficiently but are technique-sensitive and can chip or break if used to pry [2].

Special case: deciduous canine teeth

The deciduous canine has a long, narrow, thin-walled root that fractures easily, and the developing permanent canine next to it has thin dentin and an open apex [5]. The published technique inserts an appropriately sized thin instrument into the PDL space along the deciduous root and keeps the tip in that space, never letting it stray towards the permanent tooth [5]. This page makes no claim that any particular instrument changes the outcome of these extractions.

When a ligament saw is the wrong tool

• Ankylosed teeth: without a visible PDL space there is no ligament to cut [1][6].
• Levering: the NiTi Perio Saw® is not an elevator and must not be used to elevate the root [6].
• Twisting: the blade is moved along the root only; do not twist it [6].
• Nickel-titanium instruments: not for patients with known reactions to, or incompatibility with, nickel or titanium [6].

The NiTi Perio Saw® in this sequence

The NiTi Perio Saw® is a hand-held ligament saw with a micro-serrated nickel-titanium blade. Its veterinary instructions for use [6] summarise its role in five steps:

1. Inspect the instrument for damage, deformation or foreign material.
2. Autoclave it wrapped: 134 °C, 15 minutes, dry 20 minutes.
3. Position the tip at the targeted tooth, in the ligament space along the root.
4. Push and draw back gently to cut the periodontal ligament around the root.
5. With the ligament cut, extract the tooth with minimal force.

Instrument choice and sequence remain the veterinarian's decision. For the four tip shapes and reprocessing, see Choosing and caring for NiTi Perio Saw® tips; for how the instrument compares with elevators, see Elevator, luxating elevator or NiTi Perio Saw®.

Sources

1. Lewis JR. A look at advanced techniques in minimally invasive tooth extraction. Veterinary Practice News, 6 January 2026. https://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/advanced-techniques-minimally-invasive-tooth-extraction/
2. Evans T. Luxator or elevator? The ultimate question. Veterinary Practice News Canada, 15 April 2021. https://www.veterinarypracticenews.ca/luxator-or-elevator-the-ultimate-question/
3. American Veterinary Dental College. Abbreviations for use in case logs. https://avdc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/abbreviations-2.pdf
4. Lobprise H. Essential tools to have in a dental extraction kit, according to a dental specialist. dvm360, 23 December 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/essential-tools-to-have-in-a-dental-extraction-kit-according-to-a-dental-specialist
5. Charlier C. Deciduous canine tooth removal in the dog. Today's Veterinary Practice, January/February 2022. https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/dentistry/deciduous-canine-tooth-removal-in-the-dog/
6. HANS Korea Co., Ltd. Instructions for Use – NiTi Perio Saw (Veterinary), HKIFU_VT_001 Rev. 0, 30 September 2026. PDF

Reviewed: 22 October 2026

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