External Root Resorption of Young Premolar Teeth in Dentition with Crowding

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of external cervical resorption (ECR) in different tooth surfaces of maxillary first premolars in a Sri Lankan population.A sample of 59 (15 males, 44 females) permanent maxillary first premolars (age range: 11-18 years) were used. The teeth had been extracted for orthodontic reasons and were stored in 10% formalin. Morphologically, sound teeth were selected for the study. The teeth were stained with carbol fuchsin. The cervical regions of the stained teeth were observed under 10× magnifications using a dissecting microscope (Olympus SZ) to identify any resorption areas. The resorption areas present on buccal, lingual, mesial and distal aspects of all teeth were recorded.Fifteen (25.4%) [4 males (26.7%), 11 females (25.0%)] permanent maxillary first premolars showed areas of resorption on buccal, lingual, mesial or distal surfaces. Mesial (33.3%) and distal (33.3%) surfaces exhibited areas of resorption more frequently than buccal (20.0%) and lingual (13.3%) aspects. The difference was not statistically significant.It can be speculated that the ECR of root surfaces of these young premolar teeth could have been triggered by the excess pressure exerted on their proximal surfaces by the crowding of teeth.