External Root Resorption Associated with Orthodontic Treatment-Descriptive Correlations of Biological and Dental Risk...

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Orthodontics
• Dental Radiology

Background:

• External root resorption (ERR) is a detrimental outcome of orthodontic therapy, involving dental root structure loss.
• Identifying risk factors for ERR is crucial for mitigating treatment complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate biological and dental risk factors associated with external root resorption following orthodontic treatment.
• To correlate the severity of ERR with patient-specific and dental variables.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective observational study analyzed 120 orthodontic patients.
• Pre- and post-treatment panoramic radiographs were used to assess ERR.
• Statistical analysis correlated ERR severity with age, gender, facial growth patterns, and dento-maxillary anomalies.

Main Results:

• Over 52% of 2639 analyzed teeth showed ERR, predominantly mild to moderate (<3 mm).
• Maxillary central incisors were the most frequently affected teeth.
• Increased patient age correlated significantly with more severe ERR in the lower anterior region (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• External root resorption is a frequent, typically mild, complication of orthodontic treatment.
• Tooth type and patient age are significant factors influencing ERR severity.
• Gender, facial growth patterns, and dento-maxillary anomaly types were not significant risk factors in this study.