Root Resorption

Question 1

What is Pulp Canal Obliteration?

Answer 1

Response of a vital pulp to a traumatic dental injury
Progressive hard tissue formation within pulp cavity
Gradual narrowing of pulp chamber and pulp canal- total or partial obliteration of these spaces
Affected tooth can appear opaque or slightly yellow

Question 2

What are the External Root Resorption Types?

Answer 2

Surface
External infection related inflammatory root resorption
Cervical
Ankylosis related replacement root resorption

Question 3

What are the Internal Root Resorption Types?

Answer 3

Internal infection related inflammatory root resorption

Question 4

What is External Surface Resorption?

Answer 4

Superficial resorption repaired with new cementum
Response to a localised injury
Not progressive

Question 5

What is External Infection Related Inflammatory Root Resorption?
How is it initiated?
Management?

Answer 5

Non-vital tooth with infected pulp canals
Initiated by PDL damage (propagated by infected root canal toxins reaching external root surface through dentinal tubules)
Process can be extremely aggressive
Management- remove the stimulus- infected canal contents removed
endodontic treatment with non-setting CaOH for 4-6 weeks before and obturate with gutta-percha

Question 6

What is Cervical Resorption?
How is it initiated?

Answer 6

An unusual form of external infection related inflammatory root resorption
Initiated by damage to root surface in the cervical region
it is propagated by infected root canal contents or the periodontal microflora

Question 7

What is Ankylosis Related Inflammatory Root Resorption?
Treatment?

Answer 7

Initiated by severe damage to PDL and cementum and normal repair does not occur
Root is involved in remodelling and is greatly replaced by bone over years
Radiographically- ragged root outline with no obvious PDL space separating it from the surrounding bone
There is no effective treatment, but you should plan for loss even though it may be many years later

Question 8

What is Internal Infection Related Inflammatory Root Resorption?
Treatment?

Answer 8

Occurs due to progressive pulp necrosis - infected material in non-vital coronal part of canal propagates resorption by underlying the vital tissue and rapid tissue destruction follows
Radiographically- symmetrical expansion of root canal walls, tramlines of root canal are indistinct
Treatment= remove stimulus and perform endodontic treatment with non-setting CaOH for 4-6 weeks and the obturate with gutta-percha