Radiographic appearance of apical closure in apexification: follow-up after 7-13 years.
OBJECTIVE
This was the radiographic evaluation of 15 maxillary incisors apexification treatment carried out on 7-9 years old patients with periapical pathology due to pulpal necrosis after dental trauma.


METHODS
The treatment consisted of two phases. The aim of first phase was the formation of a calcified apical barrier through calcium hydroxide medications repeated twice with a three months interval. The aim of the second phase was the obturation of the root canal system once achieved a radiographic evidence of the formation of an apical barrier. The treated teeth were radiographed at six months and then periodically once a year for a period of 7 and 13 years.


RESULTS
The radiographic analysis allowed to underline three different kinds of apical formation: a physiological development of the apical portion with a final root length equal to the contralateral tooth; the formation of a cap tissue and an apical development with the final root length slightly shorter than the contralateral tooth; or the formation of different layers of mineralised tissue that aggregate together trough the years.


CONCLUSIONS
Apexification is not a static phenomenon and the apexified area undergoes through the years to a conspicuous readjustment involving bone, apical root tissues and root filling material.
Ballesio
I
I
University of Rome Tor Vergata. iaiaballes@yahoo.com
Marchetti
E
E
Mummolo
S
S
Marzo
G
G
D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D025021:Cementogenesis; D002648:Child; D003790:Dental Pulp Necrosis / Q000628:therapy; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000254:growth & development; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012389:Root Canal Obturation; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D014074:Tooth Calcification
D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide