An Assessment of the Effects of Orthodontic Treatment after Apexification of Traumatized Immature Permanent Teeth: A Retrospective Study

Endodontic-orthodontic interactions: a review and treatment recommendations

The literature is replete with articles describing the many and varied interactions between endodontic treatment and orthodontic tooth movement (OTM), often reporting conflicting views and findings, which creates confusion for clinicians. Original research and review articles have described aspects such as apical root resorption and potential pulpal complications of teeth related to OTM. Some interactions are of relatively minor clinical significance, whilst others may have adverse consequences. A history of dental trauma before or during OTM further complicates the interactions. This review re-assesses the historical literature on endodontic-orthodontic interactions in light of more recent research and presents guidelines for managing clinical situations involving both disciplines. © 2023 Australian Dental Association.

Root Surface Changes in Endodontically Treated Teeth Following Orthodontic Movement

INTRODUCTION

Orthodontically induced external root resorption (OIERR) has been labeled an unavoidable consequence of orthodontic tooth movement (OTM). The objective of this study was to investigate the change in surface area (mm²) and volume (mm³) of endodontically treated teeth (ETT) compared to contralateral teeth with a vital pulp (VPT) following OTM.

METHODS

Seventy-six teeth were included in this retrospective analysis: ETT (n=38) and VPT (n=38). All teeth were evaluated using CBCT imaging at two time periods: before OTM (T1) and after OTM (T2). Study teeth were segmented to include all areas contained within the lamina dura and then were converted into a mesh model for data calculation. The surface area (mm²) and volume (mm³) of each tooth was calculated at T1 and T2 based on the number of cubic voxels present within the mesh model. Statistical analysis was performed using a linear mixed-effects model.

RESULTS

The average change in surface area following OTM in ETT was 13.01 mm², and 19.95 mm² in VPT (p<0.05). The average percent change in surface area following OTM in ETT was 2.09%, and 3.38% in VPT (p<0.05). The average change in volume following OTM in ETT was 22.48 mm³, and 32.44 mm³ in VPT (p<0.05). The average percent change in volume following OTM in ETT was 2.62%, and 4.10% in VPT (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results from this study suggest that ETT are less susceptible to root resorption following OTM than their vital counterparts.