Computer-assisted radiographic evaluation of apical root resorption following orthodontic treatment with two different fixed appliance techniques

Eduardo César Almada SANTOS, Tulio Silva LARA, Flávia de Moraes ARANTES, Gilberto Aparecido COCLETE, Ricardo Santos SILVA

Aim: external apical root resorption is frequently observed during and after orthodontic treatment and can be related to factors such as mechanical factors, magnitude of forces and treatment time with fixed appliances. This study investigated by means of computerized radiographs the amount of root resorption after orthodontic treatment with two different fixed appliance techniques: standard Edgewise technique and Straight-wire system. Methods: the sample was comprised of 20 patients treated by the same orthodontist at the Orthodontic Clinic of Araçatuba Dental School, University of São Paulo State - UNESP. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (treated with standard Edgewise technique and stainless steel wires) and group 2 (treated with Straight-wire system and nickel-titanium alloys). The computerized evaluation was performed by only one examiner using Levander and Malmgren’s score system (1988) in the radiographs obtained at the beginning of the orthodontic treatment, after canine retraction and at the end of treatment. Results and Conclusions: external apical root resorption in patients treated with Straight-wire system and nickel-titanium alloy was lesser than in patients treated by standard Edgewise technique and stainless steel wires. However, all patients presented moderate external apical root resorption regardless of the fixed appliance technique.

Keywords: Corrective Orthodontics. Root resorption. Computer-assisted image interpretation.

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