title: Surgical management of vertical root fractures for posterior teeth: report of four cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this article was to present a surgical treatment option for teeth with incomplete vertical root fracture in maxillary and mandibular posterior teeth.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four cases are presented in which 1 endodontically treated maxillary or mandibular molar had an incomplete vertical root fracture involving 1 of the roots. The tooth underwent a flap elevation procedure to visualize the pattern of bone loss and assess the extent of root fracture. The fracture line was eliminated by resecting the root in a beveled manner, after which root-end preparation and root-end filling were performed by using mineral trioxide aggregate. The osteotomy was covered with an absorbable collagen membrane. Cases were followed up for 8-24 months after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The procedure was shown to be predictable and successful in this series. Root length was preserved, and tooth extraction was avoided.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The microsurgical treatment option for multirooted teeth with incomplete vertical root fracture resulted in long-term clinical success.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. sflo_gr@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Spyros G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Floratos
authors.forename: Samuel I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kratchman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017607:Aluminum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000541:Alveolectomy / Q000379:methods; D001047:Apicoectomy / Q000379:methods; D017610:Calcium Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003094:Collagen; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000293:injuries*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods; D010087:Oxides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000601:surgery; D012184:Retrograde Obturation / Q000379:methods; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017640:Silicates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000601:surgery*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017607:Aluminum Compounds; D017610:Calcium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010087:Oxides; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D017640:Silicates; C086631:mineral trioxide aggregate; D003094:Collagen