Root resorption in chronic periodontitis: a morphometrical study.
BACKGROUND
It has been previously observed that teeth with severe chronic periodontitis experience more transient external root resorptions than teeth with less severe disease.


METHODS
Sixty-six teeth diagnosed with different levels of chronic periodontitis in 48 patients were observed with a light microscope. Main characteristics of teeth with root resorptions, as well as percentages of area and volume resorbed on each radicular third of the teeth, were determined.


RESULTS
Over 80% (53) of the teeth exhibited resorption: 46.67% in group 1 (slight periodontitis); 85% in group 2 (moderate periodontitis); and 93.55% in group 3 (severe periodontitis). In group 1, the average resorption length was 295.65 microm and the average area, 11,212.45 microm2. In group 2 these measures were 519.09 and 25,678.102, respectively. In group 3, the average length was 675.95 microm, and the average area 36,925.06 microm2. Except for the resorbed volume on the apical third, the other resorption percentages were higher in group 3 (severe periodontitis) and smaller in the group 1 (slight periodontitis), but the location of the largest resorption percentages varied among the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The severity of periodontitis plays a major role in the presence and extent of transient external root resorption. In the three groups, most of the teeth showed resorptions on the apical third, but severity of periodontitis determined the location of the largest percentages of area and volume resorbed.
Rodriguez-Pato
Raquel B
RB
Galician Health Service (SERGAS), Section of Dentistry of A Estrada, Pontevedra, Spain. mmraquel@usc.es
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric