title: Apical root resorption: the dark side of the root.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnosis of apical root resorption is usually based on routine radiographs. However, these methods are limited because the images reflect the superimposition of the whole root structure and can lead to underestimation of the extent of apical root resorption. In this study, we aimed to determine the lengths of the labial and lingual surfaces of incisors with apical root resorption and compare them with the longest radicular length obtained on sagittal images of cone-beam computed tomography, and to create a qualitative visual scale of the different patterns of apical root resorption.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two incisors with apical root resorption from 25 patients had their labial and lingual root surfaces and the longest radicular lengths determined in the sagittal plane and compared. Five orthodontists, at 2 times, classified the images of each incisor according to a visual scale developed by the authors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference between the labial and lingual surfaces; however, the longest radicular length was significantly greater than the shortest surface length. The visual scale showed intraobserver agreement of 0.615 and interobserver agreements of 0.74 and 0.52 at both times, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The difference between the longest and shortest root lengths suggests that radiographic superimposition underestimates the extent of the resorption lesion. The proposed visual scale showed a frequency of agreement above 65% and a coefficient of reproducibility varying from moderate to substantial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Juiz de Fora Federal University, Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Drmarciocampos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Marcio José da Silva
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Karine Simões
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Marco Abdo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Gravina
authors.forename: Marcelo Reis
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fraga
authors.forename: Robert Willer Farinazzo
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Vitral
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D009811:Odontometry / Q000379:methods*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012391:Root Resorption / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014087:Tooth Movement Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult