Detection of apical inflammatory root resorption associated with periapical lesion using different methods

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral Pathology
• Radiology

Background:

• Apical inflammatory root resorption (AIRR) is a pathological process affecting tooth apices.
• Periapical lesions often coexist with AIRR, complicating diagnosis.
• Accurate detection of AIRR is crucial for effective treatment planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in detecting apical inflammatory root resorption (AIRR).
• To evaluate the prevalence of AIRR in teeth with periapical lesions.

Main Methods:

• A clinical study involving 52 permanent teeth from 14 patients with unrestorable conditions and periapical lesions.
• CBCT imaging was performed for diagnosing periapical diseases.
• Extracted root apices were analyzed using SEM.
• Chi-square test was used for statistical comparison.

Main Results:

• SEM detected AIRR in 61.4% of the studied cases.
• CBCT identified AIRR in at least half of the cases.
• A significant difference was observed in the detection rates between SEM and CBCT.

Conclusions:

• SEM serves as the gold standard for identifying AIRR.
• CBCT is a valuable imaging tool but may underestimate the prevalence of AIRR compared to SEM.
• Further research may refine CBCT's role in AIRR detection.