Non-Surgical Endodontic Management of External Root Resorption in a Permanent Maxillary Central Incisor Tooth - A 3 Year Follow-Up of a Rare Case Scenario

Abstract

Resorption of the tooth represents a multifactorial and a perplexing problem for all clinicians resulting in complete or partial loss of tooth structure. The present clinical demonstration describes management of the permanent maxillary left central incisor (tooth number #21) affected by external root resorption involving the mesial and distal surface of middle one-third of the root. Conventional nonsurgical endodontic treatment followed by MTA (Mineral trioxide aggregate) obturation (PRoRoot MTA, Dentsply, Tulsa Dental Specialties) was planned. The root canal of the affected teeth was debrided with Dual Rinse HEDP (Medcem Weinfelden, Switzerland) containing etidronate powder and chemomechanical preparation of the root canal was performed with XP endo shaper file system (FKG Dentaire, SA, Switzerland). Thirtysix months’ post-operative follow-up revealed complete healing of the external root resorption defect with no clinical and radiological signs and symptoms. In the present case simple non-surgical endodontic management of severe external root resorption was done in a permanent maxillary tooth by using a continuous chelation irrigation technique, intracanal medicament followed by obturation with bio-ceramic material produced satisfactory results in contrast to the recommended surgical management. Resorption of the tooth being a multifactorial and a perplexing problem for all clinicians results in complete or partial loss of tooth structure. According to the Glossary of Endodontic terms, Resorption is defined as a condition associated with either a physiologic or a pathologic process resulting in the loss of dentine, cementum, and/or bone.1 Traditionally resorption can present either as internal or as external resorption.2 External root resorption occurs on the outer surface of the root and are of dissimilar nature such as external surface resorption, external inflammatory root resorption, ankylosis, and external replacement resorption, the most common being external inflammatory root resorption.3 According to the Glossary of Endodontics, “Inflammatory resorption is defined as an internal or external pathologic loss of tooth structure and possibly bone, resulting in a defect; occurs as the result of microbial infection; characterized radiographically by radiolucent areas along the root”.1 It may result due to dental trauma, forceful orthodontic tooth movement, long standing infection of the pulp or periodontal tissues. External resorption presents as a major resorptive condition of the root without any clinical signs and symptoms.2 The non-surgical management of external inflammatory root resorption is based on its aetiology, which needs to be eliminated