[Frequency of the external resorptions of tooth roots]

Root resorptions present a significant problem in endodontic therapy of the affected teeth and in dentistry in general. The objective of this study was to analyze, based on epidemiological and statistical research, the frequency of clinical incidence of pathological root resorptions in everyday practice related to localization, type of tooth, age and sex of patients. Radiographic documentation of patients treated from 1997 till 2002 at the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Faculty of Stomatology in Belgrade, was used as baseline for this study. Retroalveolar radiographs of teeth with visible signs of resorptions were singled out from 15654 patients' clinical records used for this study. The external resorptions were shown as radiolucent areas localized on various outer root surfaces, followed by significant or less significant resorption of lamina dura and alveolar bone. Out of all teeth analyzed in this study, 594 (3.79%) showed some kind of resorption. The external resorptions were found to be more present in the upper jaw (55.10%) and molars (50.30%) than in the lower jaw (44.90%) and single root teeth (49.70%), but in both cases without significant statistical differences. The most frequent localization of resorptions was root apex (82.44%). In regard to age, the most frequent resorptions were recorded in patients aged between 21 and 30 years (28.40%), and the lowest incidence was found in the youngest population (5.51%). The results also showed that resorptions were more frequent among the female population (59.04%) than among the male population (40.96%). Based on these results, we may conclude that the external root resorptions are not a frequent clinical phenomenon. Proper and early diagnostics of such tissue pathology is one of the basic prerequisites for successful endodontic therapy of the affected root.