PREVALENCE OF VERTICAL ROOT FRACTURE IN EXTRACTED ENDODONTICALLY TREATED TEETH: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Abstract

Objectives: Vertical root fracture (VRF) is one of the complications of endodontic treatment which results extraction of the related tooth. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate prevalence of VRF in extracted endodontically treated teeth. Materials and Methods: During a 1 year period 241 teeth were observed. All of the cases were from extracted teeth after endodontic treatment. Clinical signs, symptoms, the informations about patient and related tooth were recorded. Results: A total of 17 (7.02%) cases of VRF occurring among 241 cases were observed. The VRF occurred most frequently in the mesial roots of the mandibular first molars (23.5%) and they were the most frequently extracted teeth (35.2%). The VRF prevalence of maxillary first molars was 23.5%, maxillary first and second premolars with a same frequency (11.7%) were the following most fractured teeth. The fractures were predominantly buccolingual and were more frequent in female patients (58.8%). The mean patient age was 36 years and the mean time to VRF was 45 months. Most of the teeth which undergo VRF had a composite restoration (41.1%). 23.5% of the teeth had a post restoration and from among these posted teeth 75% were fully crowned. VRF was found similar frequency in mandibular teeth and in maxillary teeth (P>0.05). Conclusions: After average of 45 months from endodontic treatment, mandibular first molar teeth were found most frequently prone to extraction due to VRF. Further investigation is necessary to determine the possible causes and evidence of fracture development.