Radiographic features of vertically fractured, endodontically treated maxillary premolars

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the most frequent radiographic appearance of bony lesions associated with vertically fractured roots of endodontically treated maxillary premolars.

Study design: The radiographic features of 102 endodontically treated teeth and their periradicular areas (51 with and 51 without vertically fractured roots) were evaluated and compared.

Results: The predominant appearance of the periradicular area in the teeth with vertically fractured roots was the "halo" lesion (57%); by contrast, in the non-vertically fractured roots group, a "periapical" radiolucent lesion was most frequently found (55%). Angular bone loss (14%) and periodontal radiolucency (14%) were also typical radiolucent lesions in the vertically fractured teeth.

Conclusions: "Halo" lesion, perilateral radiolucency, and angular resorption of the crestal bone, combined with diffuse or defined but not corticated borders, indicated a high probability of vertical root fracture in maxillary premolars.