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Updated: Jul 13, 2026
Measuring Maxillary Posterior Tooth Movement: A Model Assessment using Palatal and Dental Superimposition
Published on: February 23, 2024
The flaws in tooth root resorption assessment algorithms: the role of source position
1Department of Orthodontics and Oral Facial Genetics, Indiana University School of Dentistry, Room DS250, 1121 West Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. tkatona@iupui.edu
Objectives:
The purpose of this project was to analyse the effects of X-ray source location on mathematical compensations used in the clinical assessment of external apical root resorption (EARR).
Methods:
Using geometric constructions, governing equations were derived to express the relationships between actual tooth, root and crown lengths, and their image sizes on "before" and "after" radiographs.
Results:
Good agreement was found between calculated and published experimental results. More importantly, errors associated with the assessment methods are demonstrated.
Conclusion:
It is established that root resorption assessment algorithms cannot reliably compensate for the inherent distortions in radiographic evaluations of EARR, even in the best-case scenario of an idealized, precisely characterized, linear tooth.