The effect of physiological root resorption on repair potential of primary tooth pulp

The aim of this study was to determine, the effects of root resorption on repair potential of healthy deciduous tooth pulps. Fourteen canine teeth which needed to be extracted for orthodontic purposes and in which resorption had just begun (1st group, resorption did not exceed 1/3 of root length) or was in advanced resorption stage (2nd group, resorption was between 1/3 and 2/3 of root length) were used for this study. Direct pulp capping treatment was implemented in vivo, to 7 teeth in each group. Reparative dentin formation was determined three months later following extraction. The teeth were examined histopathologically under light microscope. As a result, in the teeth with different resorption levels, dentin bridge formation in the capping area was observed. Although maturation of the thin dentin bridges was completed in all teeth, maturation of the thick dentin bridges was still continuing at the 90th day.