The Endo Fix

Trauma, Resorption, and Decoronation

Suffolk Endodontist

This little guy caught a fly ball… in the mouth. The lateral was laterally luxated. The central was avulsed and replanted with a dry time of 15 minutes. The lateral was repositioned and splinted. I saw them the day after the injury. We made sure he was on an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory and saw him back in a week to start endodontic therapy as the apex of these teeth were completely deveoloped and the risk of resorption high. After what we thought was a sufficient time in both CaOH and splint therapy, we completed the endodontic therapy and placed fiber posts.

Newport News Endodontist

Over the next few years we saw resorption develop. According to the Resorption Classification for Clinicians, this resorption would be considered External Crestal Resorption, moderate scooping. We removed the invasive tissue and restored the root using composite. A custom resin matrix was used for isolation.

Hampton Roads Endodontist

Over time, we could see that the central was subject to resorption as well; External Ankylotic Resorption. This was evident by the ankylotic tone when percussed. Radiographically, this was evident my the marked lack of periodontal ligament and lack of tooth root definition. Clinically, this was evident by the infraposition of the clinical crown relative to the other central.

Root Canal Expert

In treatment planning the case, the orthodontist thought some initial leveling and aligning using the ankylosed tooth would be helpful before decoronation. After this was accomplished, the fiber post and root filling was removed and the crown was decoronated using the flapless decoronation approach as outlined by Jared Buck in Best Practices: A Desk Reference

Chesapeake Endodontist

A pontic was added to the orthodontic therapy.

Harbor View Endodontist

We can see over time that bone developed over the tooth root and the the root is turned over in osseous regeneration. The alveolar ridge is preserved for future restorative replacement.

Hampton Roads Endodontist

Here’s the 5 year followup.

Resorption Classification for Clinicians

Historically, classifying systems for resorption have been insufficient to adaquitely guide the treating doctor and inform decision making in the clinical management of resorption . Words like inflammatory and replacement as identifiers are less than ideal as all resorption is inflammatory and all resorption involves replacement.  Identifiers using cervical when used to describe ECIR are not really accurate either and are really misleading as the resorption typically stems from the level of the crestal bone. For these reasons, based on more current models, I use a clinical model of classifying resorption, and subsequent management thereof:

Hampton Endodontist, www.endovirginia.com

The initial identifiers are based first on the derived process location- either external or internal. It’s important to note that the identifiers are derived from imaging, most often CBCT imaging.

Internal Resorption is derived from the pulp. The presentation can be with either a vital or necrotic pulp. Additionally, the resorption can be further classified by extent- namely non-perforating, or perforating. Internal Resorption that is perforating may require surgery to adequately manage the case. Often the process involves a vital pulp, however, occasionally, the pulp may be non-vital. From a prevalence perspective, internal resorption is low; its rare. With internal resorption, since the process is pulpally derived, the replaced tissue is radiolucent. There is not a bone deposition component to internal resorption.

Internal resorption with a necrotic pulp:

Suffolk Endodontist

Internal Resorption with Perforation:

Tidewater Endodontist

External resorption refers to the process of tooth structure being removed and replaced from the outside. Additional identifiers depict distinctions based on a mix of location, cause, and extent. External Crestal Resorption is by far the most common type of resorption. It originates at the level of the crestal bone. A mix of soft granulomatous tissue and hard boney tissue invade and replace the tooth. Additional identifiers include scooping or tunneling. Scooping refers to the pattern of extension by which it progresses in a relatively bowled out fashion as if the tooth removal was performed with a small ice cream scoop. Tunneling refers to a thin fingerlike progression, often many of them progressing axially. Finally, the extent of the External Crestal Resorption may be described. Mild refers to external resorption that doesn’t involve the pulpal space. Moderate is likely to involve the pulp space and will require endodontic therapy. Severe resorption is the extent whereby the tooth is usually no longer restorable. The determination of restorability is made via CBCT. One thing to keep in mind when determining the extent of the resorption is the hard tissue component invading the tooth. It’s easy to mistake tooth schema for invading bone or bone schema. Additionally, the pdl is not present in this area making the distinction more difficult. Sometimes, changing the scale of the imaging during viewing can help. that’s because the process of interpreting schemata is itself dependent on scale. For example, we understand that mouth is part of face, and lips are part of mouth, and vermilian border part of lips. Changing the scale helps with understanding features at all levels.

External Crestal Resorption, Moderate Scooping:

Suffolk Endodontist

External Crestal Resorption, Severe, Tunneling:

Tunneling Resorption presents challenges as the osseous tissue embeds itself axially. Aggressive removal weakens the tooth, however, leaving bone behind allows for resorptive progression.

External Apical Resorption:

Chesapeake Endodontist

External Apical Resorption can be a result of orthodontic force, root canal infection, or in some cases, unknown causal relation.

 

 

External Pressure Resorption:

Chesapeake Endodontist

Teeth and expansile growths such as cysts can cause pressure resorption. Depending on the restorability the extent may be mild, moderate, or severe.

External Axial Resorption:

Hampton Roads Endodontics

External Axial Resorption is identifiable by the radiolucent areas adjacent to root structures. Often this is sequela of trauma and accompanied by an infected tooth. This resorption may be arrested by endodontic therapy and medication with calcium hydroxide. The extent of the injury and development of the tooth determines the prognosis. Often injuries to these teeth include avulsion, lateral luxation, intrusion or extrusion. Depending on the extent of External Axial Resorption, External Ankylotic Resorption may follow over time.

 

External Ankylotic Resorption:

Newport Bews Endodontist

External Ankylotic Resorption may follow after External Axial Resorption. The difference is the lack of radiolucent areas adjacent to the root. As with other external resorption where bone deposition is involved, distinguishing between root and bone schemas can be difficult. The appropriate interpretive response is increased uncertainty. In the developing adolescent, when facial development is not complete, the management of External Ankylotic Resorption is decoronation. An alternative might include autotransplantation if there is a knowledgeable and skilled surgeon.