Is External Cervical Resorption an Established Manifestation of Systemic Sclerosis? A Case Report

Scleroderma, or systemic sclerosis, is a multisystem autoimmune disorder characterized by hardening and fibrosis of the skin. To date, only a small number of case reports have established a relationship between scleroderma and external cervical resorption (ECR). The aim of this case report is to document the case of a patient with multiple external cervical resorption lesions, who was referred to our unit. A 54-year-old female patient, with a 10-year history of systemic sclerosis diagnosed by her rheumatologist, was referred to our unit regarding extensive ECR. A total of 14 maxillary and mandibular teeth with ECR were detected by clinical examination and cone-beam computed tomography. The characteristic vascularity of resorptive defects with profuse bleeding upon probing was not evident. The patient declined any active treatment owing to the desire to avoid lengthy and unpredictable treatment, which may hasten the loss of her teeth. General practitioners should be aware of the relationship between connective tissue disorders and ECR. Although not well established in the literature, the vascular changes implicated in scleroderma may stimulate the odontoclastic processes involved in ECR.