Pattern of Physiologic Root Resorption in Deciduous Teeth at Different Stages

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pattern of physiologic resorption represents the path of eruption of permanent teeth. It is essential to have thorough knowledge of normal pattern of resorption, so as to identify the deviation from normal which would help in early diagnosis and treatment planning. Aim: To assess the pattern, surfaces and extent of physiologic root resorption in deciduous incisors, canines and molars at different stages of root resorption. Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted to understand the pattern of physiologic root resorption in the extracted deciduous teeth from June 2015 to December 2017. A total of 138 extracted deciduous incisors, canines and molars were included in the study. Remaining Root Length (RRL) was determined for all the teeth based on the standardised photographs. The teeth were divided into 4 groups with 3 subgroups each, based on the percentage of RRL. The measurements made on the photographs from buccal/labial, mesial, distal and lingual/palatal aspects of each group were used for assessing the pattern of resorption. Descriptive statistics, Frequency distribution and ANOVA were applied to identify the pattern of resorption and to compare the changes occurring within groups. Results: ANOVA indicated that incisors began with resorption on the lingual aspects having least mean length of 10.43 mm in stage 1 which further progressed to involve all the surfaces. The mean length of remaining root for stage 3 was significantly different across different surfaces with a p-value 0.0015 while it was insignificant in stages 1 and 2. The mean length of resorption for canines in stage 2 was significantly different across different surface with a p-value 0.0453 using repeated measures of ANOVA. The mean length was least for lingual surface of the root. Maxillary molars showed that distobuccal pattern and palatal of resorption more evident. The mean length of resorption for maxillary molar in stage 1 was significantly different across different surfaces with a p-value 0.0232. Similarly, mandibular molars indicated that distal root resorbed much earlier than the mesial root with all the 10 samples showing this pattern in stage 1 and 2. The mean length of resorption for mandibular molar in stage 1 and stage 2 was significantly different between two surfaces with a p-value 0.0005 and <0.0001, respectively. Conclusion: All the deciduous teeth do not follow a similar pattern of resorption. This study describes a definite pattern of resorption of deciduous teeth in different stages of resorption which could be identified as most common pattern of resorption and any deviation thus can be observed and used for early diagnosis of abnormal pattern of resorption.

Keywords

• extent of resorption
• primary teeth
• remaining root length
• surfaces