title: The role of the prosthodontist in restoring root-resected molars: a study of 70 molar root resections.
abstract: Root resection is a complex, multidiscipline technique to eliminate molar furcation invasions. In the short term of 3 or 4 years it has been highly successful, but after 10 years approximately one third fail. A substantial number of failures were attributed to recurrent periodontal disease. This study examined 70 root resected molars in 62 patients for the quality of the resections. Twenty-one (30%) of the resections were considered faulty when subgingival, residual roots, furcal lips, and/or ledges were present. Failures were more frequent in maxillary molars (33.3%) than mandibular molars (22.7%). Clinically hidden roots/lips and ledges in mandibular molars were readily observed in radiographs, but were seen radiographically only 37.5% of the time in maxillary molars. Since subgingival defects are believed to encourage future periodontal disease, it is important that the dentist detect these structures and correct them before proceeding with the permanent restoration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Indiana University, School of Dentistry, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Newell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003779:Denture Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible; D008437:Maxilla; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D011476:Prosthodontics; D011859:Radiography; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*