[Prognosis of external inflammatory root resorption in permanent teeth after trauma depending on the timing of its...

Was to determine the impact of the timing of radiographic detection of external inflammatory root resorption of an injured permanent tooth on the disease outcome.

The study comprised 16 children aged 6 to 13 years (mean age 9.2±3.5 years) having the history of dental injury in 23 permanent teeth. Five patients (31%) were followed-up with clinical and radiological assessment according to protocol of International Association of Dental Traumatology (IADT). Remaining 11 patients (69%) were reffered with complains one year and later after dental injury.

From five patients followed-up according to IADT protocol 4 had non-invasive external inflammatory root resorption. After treatment, stabilization of external inflammatory resorption or its transition to external replacement resorption was noted in all teeth. One patient was diagnosed with complete root resorption after tooth replantation and therefore the tooth was removed. In the remaining 11 patients referred a year or more after injury from the 17 injured teeth, only 3 (18%) showed stabilization of the external inflammatory root resorption after treatment. In 4 (23%) teeth, complete external inflammatory root resorption was detected and the teeth were removed. Penetrating external inflammatory root resorption was diagnosed in 3 (18%) teeth, but the patient did not apply again for endodontic treatment. In 7 (41%) teeth, the transition of external inflammatory resorption to external replacement was noted with significant loss of the root hard tissues.

External inflammatory resorption of the root of a permanent tooth requires an early and accurate X-ray diagnosis. Late detection of external inflammatory root resorption of an injured tooth limits the choice of treatment methods and often leads to tooth loss.