[Root growth after wisdom tooth transposition. Case documentation with proposal for a radiologic method to quantify growth].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce a method for assessment of root growth on panoramic radiographs exemplified by a case report on an autotransplanted lower third molar.


METHODS
A lower left third molar (T) with incomplete root formation was transplanted for replacement of the lower left first molar in an 18-year-old woman. T was monitored clinically and, together with its neighboring lower second molar (37) with constant root length, also radiographically by means of two panoramic radiographs (OPGs) produced 12 days and 20 months postoperatively. A method for calculation of the root length as a multiple of the crown length is introduced, using accurately reproducible landmarks defining the coronal and apical endpoints of the examined tooth in all OPGs of the series. This method minimizes error due to different magnifications within the set of radiographs.


RESULTS
Using the method introduced, the root length of the constant tooth 37 varied at 2.7% within the set of OPGs, whereas it revealed a 5.6% variation when the evaluation was based on direct measurement. Based on the described method, T revealed a postoperative root growth of approximately one-third of its final length and showed clinically no pathological findings during the observation period.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that with the described method root growth assessment on panoramic radiographs is more accurate than with direct measurement.
Schulze
R K W
RK
Poliklinik für Zahnärztliche Chirurgie, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz. rschulze@mail.uni-mainz.de
d'Hoedt
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000601:surgery*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000254:growth & development*