Interventions for the management of external root resorption.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Endodontics
• Periodontics

Background:

• External root resorption is a pathological process triggered by stimuli like infection, trauma, or orthodontic movement.
• It can manifest clinically with pain, swelling, and tooth mobility, though radiography is the primary diagnostic tool.
• Treatment focuses on addressing the resorption cause and promoting lesion regeneration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of interventions for managing external root resorption in permanent teeth.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of multiple electronic databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, EMBASE) was conducted up to October 2015.
• Included were randomized controlled trials on permanent teeth with confirmed external root resorption, comparing various interventions.
• Ongoing trials were also searched via clinical trial registries, with no language or publication date restrictions.

Main Results:

• No randomized controlled trials met the inclusion criteria for this review.
• One ongoing study was identified and will be assessed upon publication.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant lack of reliable evidence from randomized controlled trials on the efficacy of external root resorption interventions.
• Clinicians currently manage this condition based on clinical experience and patient-specific factors.
• Well-designed clinical trials adhering to CONSORT guidelines are urgently needed to establish evidence-based treatment protocols.