title: Clinical and Radiographic Characteristics of Vertical Root Fractures in Endodontically and Nonendodontically Treated Teeth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A vertical root fracture (VRF) is a root fracture extending along the longitudinal axis of roots and is often noted in endodontically treated teeth. However, the clinical and radiographic characteristics of VRFs are not completely known.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 65 teeth with 68 vertical fractured roots in 58 Chinese patients were investigated. The clinical examination records and radiographic images were reviewed in detail.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 24 male (41.38%) and 34 female (58.62%) patients aged 25-90 years (average = 57 years) were included; 51 (87.93%) and 7 (12.07%) patients exhibited 1 tooth and 2 teeth with VRFs, respectively, in the dentition. VRFs occurred mainly in the mesial root (20 roots, 57.14%) of the mandibular molars (29 teeth, 44.62%). Clinically, teeth with VRFs usually presented a periodontal probing depth >5 mm (44 teeth, 91.67%, P < .001) with a prosthesis (55 teeth, 84.62%, P < .001) and a relatively intact dentition (42 patients exhibited <4 missing teeth in the dentition, 77.78%, P < .001). Most of the nonendodontically treated VRFs exhibited attrited occlusal surfaces. Radiographic characteristics of the teeth with VRFs were typically associated with prior root canal treatment (56 teeth, 86.15%, P < .001), periodontal bone loss (62 teeth, 95.38%, P < .001), apical bone loss (52 teeth, 80.00%, P < .001), and periodontal ligament widening (61 teeth, 93.85%, P < .001). The mesial roots of the mandibular molars were most susceptible to VRFs in both endodontically and nonendodontically treated teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results elucidated some clinical and radiographic and diagnostic features that facilitate VRF identification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wan-Chuen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yi-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Ying
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Kwei-Shan, Taoyuan City, Taiwan; Department of Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Chi
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wei-Ling
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Dental Department, Show-Chwan Memorial Hospital, Chang-Hua, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsueh-Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Wei-Cheng Dental Group, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Cheng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiu-Po
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry and School of Dentistry, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: jhjeng@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Jiiang-Huei
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D014082:Tooth Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Clinical characteristics; endodontic treatment; post and core; radiography; vertical root fractures