Management of invasive cervical resorption in a maxillary central incisor

Abstract

Invasive cervical resorption is often not diagnosed properly, leading to improper treatment or unnecessary loss of the tooth structure. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are the keys to a successful outcome of therapy. Invasive cervical resorption is often seen in the cervical area of the tooth, but because it is initiated apical to the epithelial attachment, it can present anywhere in the root. In the early stages, it may be symmetrical, but larger lesions have the tendency to be asymmetrical. It can expand apically or coronally.

Invasive cervical resorption (ICR) is a type of external root resorption which is characterized by invasion of root dentin by fibrovascular tissue derived from the periodontal ligament (PDL) as a result of odontoclastic action (irreversible damage). ICR usually starts from the cervical cement-enamel junction where the epithelial attachment is located and irrelevant to bacterial infections until secondary invasion from gingival sulcus occurs.[1]

This form of external resorption has been described at length by Heithersay, who preferred the term ICR, which is invasive and aggressive in nature. Some other terms used to describe external cervical resorption (ECR) are peripheral cervical resorption,[2] peripheral inflammatory root resorption,[3] extracanal invasive resorption,[4] supraosseous extracanal invasive resorption,[5] and subepithelial external root resorption,[6] odontoclastoma.[7]

Heithersay wrote a classic series of articles in which he described the features, possible predisposing factors and recommended treatment regimen for ICR. He described his treatment regimen, which included mechanical and chemical debridement of the resorptive lesions, followed by restoration and analyzed the treatment results.

Case Report

A 43-year-old male reported to the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics with complaints of pain in 22 for the past 2 weeks. Pain throbbing in nature and continuous in character. Patient had a history of trauma before 10 years and he undergone RCT in 11, 21 [Figure 1].

Figure 1.

Preoperative photograph

Clinical examination

Twenty-two shows a positive response to percussion and palpation with grade 1 mobility. 11, 21 shows a negative response to percussion, palpation. Pulp vitality test (thermal, electric pulp testing) shows negative response in 11, 21, 22 [Figure 2].

Figure 2.

Intra oral view

Radiographic examination

On radiographic examination 22 revealed pulp exposure with loss of laminadura and root canal treated 11 and 21 with a radiolucent region from cervical one-third to middle one-third on the distal aspect of crown of maxillary right central incisor (11) [Figure 3].

Figure 3.

Preoperative radiograph

Radiographic appearance of the right maxillary central incisor reveals an irregular “mouth-eaten” radiolucency on the distal aspect of the tooth extending to the outline of the root canal and into the root.[8]

Treatment

The patient's preference was to save the tooth if possible.

Treatment plan

• Emergency endodontic management of 22

• Arrest resorptive process of 11

• Restore damaged root surface of 11.

First visit

Root canal treatment of 22 initiated after cleaning and shaping calcium hydroxide with saline given as intracanal medicament.

In second visit

A labial flap was reflected, the lesion is accessed externally and debrided with a carbide round bur in a slow-speed handpiece. All the obvious resorptive tissue is removed until smooth, clean dentin is present, except a few small spots that are discolored or bleeding, which represent the communication of the resorption with the PDL.

The dentin is then scrubbed for 1-min with Carnoy's solution on a cotton ball. Carnoy's solution is very caustic and cauterizes the residual resorptive tissue, which makes it more obvious under magnification. Additional tooth structure is removed carefully with a slow-speed round bur, and the acid is applied again. This process is continued until all the penetration points are eliminated in the surgical approach [Figures 4–6].

Figure 4.

Carnoy's solution

Figure 6.

Carnoy's solution on a cotton ball

Figure 5.

Full thickness flap elevated

A small amount of alveolar bone was removed in the cervical area on the labial aspect of the tooth [Figure 7]. A postspace was created with gates glidden drills, and a glass fiber post was cemented with dual cure resin cement. The tooth was restored with an “open sandwich” technique. The dentin was conditioned with 10% polyacrylic acid for 15 s and after dentin bonding agent application flowable composite was used to restore the majority of the preparation [Figures 8–10].

Figure 7.

After debridement

Figure 8.

Postspace preparation

Figure 10.

Intra oral peri-apical radiograph after fibre postcementation

Figure 9.

Cementation of fibre post

The surgical area was subsequently rinse with sterile saline solution and dried with sterile gauze. White mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) was prepared following the manufacturer's instructions and placed to seal the root canal and the resorptive cavity. The flap was sutured in place with nonabsorbable suture, and postsurgical instructions and medication were given to the patient [Figures 11–13].

Figure 11.

White mineral trioxide aggregate on remaining cavity

Figure 13.

Suture

Figure 12.

Bone graft placement

A week later, the sutures were removed. The patient did not report pain or inflammation. Clinical and radiovisiography evaluations were scheduled every 3 and 6 months, respectively [Figure 14]. During the postsurgical months, no communication was found between the gingival sulcus and the coronal aspect of the resorptive cavity.

Figure 14.

Postoperative after 6 months

Discussion

Invasive cervical resorption can be arrested and treated successfully over the long-term.

The failure are:

• Structural damage

• Recurrence of the resorption

• Crown fracture in the cervical area.[9]

It is possible that the tooth been restored with a post in combination with a composite resin material, the restorative treatment might have provided even greater longevity.

Etiology

External resorption can be divided into three groups [Figure 15]:[10]

Figure 15.

Predisposing factors

• Trauma-induced tooth resorption

• Infection-induced tooth resorption

• Hyperplastic invasive tooth resorption.

Mechanism of invasive cervical resorption

It is broadly accepted that either damage to or deficiency of the protective layer (gaps) of cementum apical to the gingival epithelial attachment exposes the root surface to osteoclasts, which then resorbs the dentine.[10]

Histology

• The resorptive lesions consists of granulomatous tissue

• Osteoclasts observed on the resorbing front within the lacunae

• The predentin and innermost layer of dentin prevent the ECR lesion from involving the pulp

• The resorption expands in a circumferential and apico-coronal direction around the root canal

• The outer surface of enamel also resistant to resorption by odontoclastic dissolution of the interprismatic enamel.[2]

Clinical signs

• Located in cervical region of tooth

• Tooth shows a positive response to vitality test

• Pink spot (enamel) might be noted by patient/dentist

• Profuse and spontaneous bleeding on probing

• Sharp, thinned out edges around the resorptive cavity.[2]

Radiologic signs

• Radiolucent area with irregular margins in cervical/proximal region of tooth

• Early lesions - radiolucent

• Advanced lesions - mottled (fibro-osseous)

• Root canal may be visible and intact indicating lesion is external.[2]

Treatment objectives

• Arrest resorptive process

• Restore damaged root surface

• Prevent further resorption

• Improve esthetics of tooth

  • Classes 1–3 are restorable [Figure 16]
  • Class 4 lesions are:
  • Extensive nature
  • Difficult to manage
  • Higher risk of failure
  • Left untreated – Asymptomatic
  • Extraction - when nontreatable/symptomatic.[2]

Figure 16.

Heithersay's clinical classification

Topical application of trichloroacetic acid results in coagulation necrosis of the external cervical resorptive tissue, with no damage to adjacent periodontal tissues. Endodontic treatment might be necessary with some class 2 and usually class 3 lesions when there is pulpal involvement.[11]

Recently, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), has been used to assess ECR lesions, trichloroacetic acid totally eliminates the hydroxyapatite from the dentin surface, so no calcium available for bonding by glass ionomer cement. Therefore, before bonding the surface should be refreshed with a bur to provide a normal dentin surface.[12] When the resorptive defect restoration procedure is preceded by a surgical approach, the materials are frequently placed in close contact with the periodontium. Therefore, it is important to consider that although materials are not sensitive to moisture, blood contamination, biocompatibility, and sealing ability these conditions may induce periodontal regeneration and bony repair during the healing process.[13] Available evidence suggests that MTA is the material of choice in a clinical condition in which the resorptive process never reaches the supragingival area before the surgical approach. As in the present case, MTA favors its full setting and isolates the area from a possible microbial contamination.[14,15]

Conclusion

Early detection is essential for successful management and outcome of ECR. Patients with a history of one or more predisposing factors should be monitored closely for initial signs of ECR. Radiographic/CBCT investigation should be routinely checked for ECR lesions if the teeth in question have been exposed to one or more of the predisposing factors.