Skip Navigation

The European Journal of Orthodontics 2002 24(1):91-97; doi:10.1093/ejo/24.1.91
© 2002 by European Orthodontic Society
This Article
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (4)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrowScopus Links
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mavragani, M.
Right arrow Articles by Selvig, K. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mavragani, M.
Right arrow Articles by Selvig, K. A.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Changes in root length during orthodontic treatment: advantages for immature teeth

Maria Mavragani1, Olav Egil Bøe1, Per Johan Wisth1 and Knut Andreas Selvig1

1 Departments of Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics, and Dental Research, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway

The purpose of the study was to investigate root lengthening during orthodontic treatment in relation to the age of the patient, the developmental stage of the root, and the anticipated growth. Specifically, the potential benefit of treating young teeth was addressed.

The sample consisted of 80 patients with Angle Class II division 1 malocclusions, treated with extraction of at least two maxillary first premolars, and edgewise technique with 0.018-inch slot brackets. Additionally, a cross-sectional control group of 66 untreated individuals matched to gender, and pre- and post-treatment age of the experimental group was included. Crown and root lengths of the maxillary incisors were measured on peri-apical radiographs before and after treatment, and corrected for image distortion. The stage of root development before treatment was recorded.

Root elongation during treatment was found for 50 out of the 280 examined teeth. Age at treatment start was significantly higher among the patients showing root shortening of the lateral incisors during treatment than among those showing root elongation (P < 0.05). The stage of root development was significantly related to the direction of root length change, i.e. shortening or elongation. Roots elongated during treatment did not differ in length from untreated teeth of similarly aged individuals. There was no significant difference in the extent of root lengthening between the roots elongated during treatment and the normal root lengthening in age-matched untreated individuals. Post-treatment root length was significantly related to pre-treatment age. Roots that were incompletely developed before treatment reached a significantly greater length than those that were fully developed at the start of treatment.

The results of this study show a definite advantage for younger teeth with regard to post-treatment root length. This finding may influence treatment planning strategy.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Eur J OrthodHome page
B. U. Winter, A. Stenvik, and V. Vandevska-Radunovic
Dynamics of orthodontic root resorption and repair in human premolars: a light microscopy study
Eur J Orthod, August 1, 2009; 31(4): 346 - 351.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J OrthodHome page
S. Apajalahti and J. S. Peltola
Apical root resorption after orthodontic treatment a retrospective study
Eur J Orthod, August 1, 2007; 29(4): 408 - 412.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Eur J OrthodHome page
M. Mavragani, J. Apisariyakul, P. Brudvik, and K. A. Selvig
Is mild dental invagination a risk factor for apical root resorption in orthodontic patients?
Eur J Orthod, August 1, 2006; 28(4): 307 - 312.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]



Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.