Abstract

To study predictors of root resorption in orthodontic treatment from 407 records, 377 pre- and post- treatment periapical radiographs of permanent maxillary central incisors of 199 patients treated with fixed appliances were divided according to overjet, overbite, age, gender and endodontic treatment. Changes in root length between the onset and completion of orthodontic treatment were measured in digitized images and statistically compared using student t, one-way ANOVA and Tukey tests. There was no correlation between increased overjet, overbite and root resorption or with anterior open bite (0.924 and 0.5772). Root resorption was significantly lower in children younger than 10 years when compared to adults (P = 0.0017) and even lower in adolescents when compared to adults (P = 0.0003). There was higher prevalence of root resorption in males simultaneously with higher number of pipette-shaped and dilacerated apical root morphology (P = 0.034). Endodontically treated teeth were not more susceptible to root resorption (P = 0.208). Increased overjet and overbite did not present positive relation with root resorption. There was no difference in root resorption between vital and endodontically treated teeth. Age and gender presented positive relation with root resorption. Susceptibility to root resorption during orthodontic treatment may be related to apical morphology.

Key words: Root resorption, orthodontic treatment, tooth movement.