Factors related to root resorption in edgewise practice

Area of Science:

• Orthodontics
• Dental Research
• Periodontology

Background:

• Tooth root resorption is a potential complication of orthodontic treatment.
• Severe root resorption, defined as >25% of root length loss, is infrequent but concerning.
• Understanding risk factors is crucial for mitigating adverse outcomes in orthodontic patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify risk factors associated with severe root resorption of maxillary incisors during orthodontic treatment.
• To compare characteristics of patients with severe resorption to controls.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study was conducted on 21 patients with severe root resorption from a series of 200 orthodontic patients treated with the edgewise appliance.
• Patients were compared to randomly selected controls from the same case series.
• Risk indicators related to treatment procedures were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Severe root resorption (>25% root length) occurred in 3% of patients, primarily affecting maxillary central incisors.
• Class III malocclusion patients showed a higher prevalence of severe resorption.
• Key risk factors identified: maxillary incisor root approximation to the lingual cortical plate (OR 20), maxillary surgery (OR 8), and root torque (OR 4.5).

Conclusions:

• Severe orthodontic root resorption is associated with specific patient (Class III) and treatment factors.
• Minimizing root proximity to cortical bone, judicious use of maxillary surgery, and controlled root torque may help prevent severe resorption.
• Further research into preventative strategies for orthodontic root resorption is warranted.