Orthodontic and nonorthodontic root resorption: their impact on clinical dental practice

Occasionally, general dentists are challenged with providing restorative treatment for a postorthodontic patient who has had moderate to severe root resorption. When this happens, a number of questions about the cause of such resorption and the appropriate treatment arise in the dentist's mind. This article will describe the orthodontic and restorative management of three patients with severe maxillary incisor root resorption, provide a thorough discussion of the currently available literature on the topic of root resorption, and answer clinical questions regarding this relatively infrequent but devastating sequel to orthodontic treatment.