Apical root resorption incidence in fi nished cases of the Orthodontics Department of the Postgraduate Studies and Research Division of the Faculty of Dentistry, UNAM, during the 2010-2012 period

Resumen

Objective: To determine the degree of apical root resorption of the upper and lower anterior and posterior teeth (except molars) in orthodontically treated patients of the Orthodontics Department of the Postgraduate Studies and Research Division of the Faculty of Dentistry at the National University of Mexico (UNAM) whose treatment was fi nished during 2010-2012. Method: Out of 1,125 fi les, fi fty-fi ve that met the criteria were selected. One of the criteria was that the fi les included pre and post-treatment panoramic radiographs taken with the Radiology Department’s panorex. Information related with treatment was obtained such as: extraction or non-extraction treatment, treatment duration and employed technique. In all digital pre and post-treatment panoramic radiographs, the total length and the crown length of all teeth except molars were measured. The obtained data was gathered on a database to apply a formula for apical rooth resorption analysis. Results: Upon comparison of the mean apical root resorption it was observed that the most affected teeth were the lower central incisors followed by the upper lateral incisors. The teeth with the least amount of apical root resorption were fi rst premolars. No association was found between the apical root resorption and extractions, employed technique and apical root resorption, gender and apical root resorption variables (p > 0.05). Conclusions: All teeth exhibited apical root resorption to some degree. Apical root resorption did not increase in extraction treatments in regard to non-extraction treatments. No genderrelated preference for apical root resorption was found. There was a positive correlation between sliding mechanics and apical root resorption.

Key words: Root resorption, orthodontics, panoramic radiograph.