From Volume 40, Issue 2, March 2013 | Pages 102-112
Root resorption is a pathological process that may occur after surgical, mechanical, chemical or thermal insult. Generally, it can be classified as internal and external root resorption. Depending on the diagnosis, an orthograde, surgical or a combined approach is used in management of these cases.
Root resorption is a pathological process that is not uncommon after injuries or irritation of periodontal ligament or pulp.1 Such injuries may result from surgical, physical, chemical or thermal insult. Resorption may also occur due to mechanical stimulation, infection or neoplastic disease.
The result of this process is loss of hard dental tissues (ie cementum and dentine) by dentinoclastic cell action. The function of dentinoclasts is controlled by various activating and preventing resorption factors. Activating factors include:
Preventive factors acting on dentinoclasts include: anti-invasion factor and the intermediate cementum layer.2 Injuries and irritations may stimulate activating factors or reduce preventive factors, hence dentinoclasts may become activated and subsequent root resorption may occur.
Root resorption continues as long as the simulating factor is present. The stimulating factor could be mechanical stimulation, pressure, infection, neoplastic process or a combination of any of these factors.3,4 Once the stimulating factors are removed, root resorption may be arrested. Cementum and dentine may form again, depending on the severity of the damaged surface area.
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