RADIOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF PRE-ERUPTIVE INTRACORONAL RESORPTION USING CONE-BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

Abstract

<h3>BACKGROUND</h3> Pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption (PEIR) is a radiolucent lesion that affects the coronal dentin of unerupted teeth. PEIR is a rare condition with unknown cause, and it is usually detected incidentally in routine dental imaging. The radiographic appearance of PEIR resembles that of dental caries; however, some studies have reported clinical and histologic evidence to support the hypothesis that these lesions are likely resorptive in nature. <h3>OBJECTIVE(S)</h3> To characterize the radiographic features of pre-eruptive intracoronal resorption in the unerupted permanent dentition using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). <h3>STUDY DESIGN</h3> In this retrospective study, 26 CBCT scans of patients who had at least 1 tooth with a PEIR lesion were evaluated. The following data were recorded: patients' demographic data, number of affected teeth, affected tooth type, location, and extension of the lesion. The communication of lesions with the pulp was also evaluated. <h3>RESULTS</h3> Out of 26 patients (10 female and 16 male), 33 unerupted permanent teeth with PEIR were recorded. Twenty-one of the cases were located in the maxilla and 12 in the mandible. The maxillary third molar was the most affected tooth type, followed by mandibular third molars and supernumerary teeth. Of 26 patients with PEIR, 21 patients had only 1 affected tooth, 3 patients had 2 affected teeth, and 2 patients had 3 affected teeth. Ninety-four of cases showed radiographic evidence of enamel involvement. In 36% of cases, the lesion extended apical to the cementoenamel junction (CEJ), and in 1 of the specimens the lesion extended to the middle third of the root. None of the cases showed evidence of periapical rarefying osteitis. <h3>DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS</h3> The findings of this study show that the radiographic patterns of PEIR are distinctly different from those seen with other types of resorptive defect. CBCT imaging is a valuable tool for detection, differential diagnosis, and prognostic evaluation of teeth with PEIR.