Management of External Cervical Resorption in Mandibular Molar Furcation Area - A Case Series

Abstract

<p>External cervical resorption (ECR) is an aggressive form of root resorption causing loss of tooth structure and sometimes leading to destruction of adjacent alveolar bone. In the advanced extent of ECR lesion, surgical intervention is inevitable. Several studies presented favorable treatment outcomes on advanced ECR lesions at single teeth. In the light of these studies, this article reports on surgical management of two ECR cases. Materials and Methods: Two cases had ECR combined with bony defect in left mandibular first molar. Case 1 had ECR lesion over buccal furcation area combined with buccal bone plate loss. Following root canal treatment, the resorptive defect was restored by mineral trioxide aggregate and the bony defect was treated with guided tissue regeneration (GTR). Case 2 had class II furcation defect with ECR over furcal surfaces of mesial and distal roots. The resorptive defect was restored with bioceramic putty and class II furcation bony defect was treated by GTR. Root canal treatment of tooth 36 was done later after case 2 suffered from symptomatic irreversible pulpitis of tooth 36. Result: At one-year follow-up of case 1, no inflammatory signs with probing pocket depth (PPD) less than 3mm clinically and regeneration of buccal bone plate radiographically were found of tooth 36. At half year follow-up of case 2, there was a healthy gingiva with PPD less than 3mm clinically and the furcation area has been partially filled with regenerated bone radiographically of tooth 36. Conclusion: These case series presented an interdisciplinary surgical management of two cases with external cervical resorption combined with bony defect over lower molar furcation area which were successfully treated with biocompatible restorative material in combination with GTR technique in short-term follow-up.</p> <p> </p>