Identification of orthodontic patients at risk of severe apical root resorption.

Introduction: Current information suggests that the major variation in orthodontic root resorption can be explained by differences in individual predisposition. Our aim was therefore to test the predictive value of the amount of maxillary incisor resorption about 6 and 12 months after bracket placement for the resorption at appliance removal.

Methods: We measured tooth length of the maxillary incisors on digitally converted periapical radiographs, adjusted for projection errors, made before treatment (T1), about 6 months (T2) and 12 months (T3) after bracket placement, and at the end of active treatment (T4) of 267 prospectively enrolled orthodontic patients, and interpreted reduced tooth length as apical root resorption.

Apical root resorption six and 12 months after initiation of fixed orthodontic appliance therapy.

The low explained variance of identified risk factors for apical root resorption in orthodontic patients suggests effects of parameters related to individual predisposition. Our purpose was to explore this hypothesis. We evaluated standardized periapical radiographs of the maxillary incisors made before treatment (T1) as well as at about six and 12 months after bracket placement (T2 and T3) of 247 patients aged 10.

Apical root resorption 6 months after initiation of fixed orthodontic appliance therapy.

Introduction: Individual predisposition might be a major reason for the observed variation in apical orthodontic root resorption. If so, resorption might be expressed during the initial stages of orthodontic therapy in patients at risk.

Methods: To explore this hypothesis, we evaluated standardized, digitized periapical radiographs made before treatment (T1) and at a mean period of 6.