Evaluation of dental root fracture using cone-beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the application of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the detection of dental root fractures and to analyse the demographic profile of these fractures.

METHODS

The study group comprised 398 teeth that were examined by CBCT for determining whether they had a root fracture. Patient characteristics were recorded, and the location, fractured roots, fracture types and three-dimensional images of the related skeletal structures were analysed. Two experienced oral radiologists independently analysed each case and reached a consensus, and the diagnosis was graded in one of the following three categories: fracture definitely present (FDP), fracture probably present (FPP) and no visible fracture (NVF).

RESULTS

Among these teeth, 155 (39.0%) were diagnosed as FDP, 14 (3.5%) as FPP and 229 (57.5%) as NVF in the consensus reading. During follow-up, all teeth diagnosed as FDP and 4 of the 14 teeth diagnosed as FPP were intra-operatively demonstrated to be fractured. In FDP cases, 60.0% of the patients were aged from 50 to 69 years. In total, 107 FDP teeth were non-endodontically treated, and the remaining were endodontically treated with (n = 16) or without (n = 32) crown placement. The maxillary and mandibular molars were most frequently affected (81.9%). The fractured roots were mostly palatal (65.7%) in maxillary molars and mesial (84.2%) in mandibular molars. The fractures were characterised as vertical (n = 84), horizontal (n = 34), oblique (n = 5) and complicated (n = 32) fractures.

CONCLUSION

The application of CBCT is valuable for the diagnosis of root fracture.