The main iatrogenic effects associated with orthodontic treatment refer to: influence of orthodontic rings on the periodontal tissue; gum retractions; the effect of the orthodontic treatment on dental root (root resorption); the effect of the orthodontic treatment on alveolar bone height; mobility and pain associated with orthodontic treatment.
AIM of the study: To assess the degree of root resorption of incisors, after orthodontic treatment, on a group of 48 adults with dental-maxillary abnormalities.
Materials and method: The study included 48 young adult patients, 35 women and 13 men aged 18 to 30 years, who had received fixed orthodontic treatment. To assess the degree of root resorption (changes at root level and apical contour length), apical radiographies were taken in the maxillary incisors and jaw both at the beginning and end of the orthodontic treatment.
Results: Out of the 239 incisors examined at the beginning of orthodontic treatment, 163 showed code 0, meaning 88.1%, and 50 showed a slight squash apex (code 1), respectively 10.9%. Only 1% of all incisors assessed presented mild and severe root resorption.
Conclusions: The results of the study show that, generally, an adult orthodontic treatment, applied for functional and aesthetic objectives, may have clinically acceptable iatrogenic effects.
- incisor
- orthodontic treatment
- root resorption