Comparison of apical resorption of endodontically treated teeth before and after orthodontic movement with clear aligner: A preliminary radiometric study

Abstract

Introduction : Patients treated with orthodontics show short root due to apical root resorption. Aim: The aim of the study was to compare the external apical root resorption (EARR) of endodontically treated teeth before and after orthodontic movements using clear aligner therapy. Materials and Methods: The study group comprised 22 class I adult healthy patients with a mean age of (28 ± 8.2) years treated with clear aligner therapy. Thirty-four endodontically treated teeth (maxillary incisors and molars) were measured for the extent of the EARR in panoramic radiographs at the beginning and at the end of clear aligner therapy. Root resorption was measured using an electrical digital caliper (Mitutoyo Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) on the dental panoramic radiographs from the mesial cusps of the first molar tooth to the apex of the root, and from the incisal edge to the apex of the root for the central incisors. Results and Discussion: All the endodontically treated teeth demonstrated reduction in pretreatment root length. Less than one percent of EARR was found in 4 teeth, and 1%–4.9% of the EARR was observed in 23 teeth. Six teeth showed EARR of 5–7.9 while only one tooth EARR in the range of 8–10. A pretreatment versus posttreatment comparison of median root lengths of #16, #26, #36, and #46 showed a statistically significant difference (P < 0.05). The mean differences of root lengths after clear aligner therapy among different teeth showed no significant difference (P = 0.981). Conclusion: All the endodontically treated teeth showed minimal external root resorption after orthodontic treatment with a clear aligner.