The diagnostic challenge of vertical root fracture in endodontically treated teeth: A case report

Authors

  • Pollyanna Queiroz Freitas Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA
  • Paulo Maria Santos Rabêlo-Júnior Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA
  • Claúdia Maria Coelho Alves Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA
  • Soraia de Fatima Carvalho Souza Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA

Keywords:

Diagnosis, Endodontics, vertical root fracture

Abstract

Purpose: To present the diagnostic challenge of a clinical case of vertical root fracture (VRF) in an endodontically treated mandibular left lateral incisor. Case Description: At 16 months after endodontic treatment, a 60-year-old female patient reported pain during mastication. Clinically, she presented with an active distolingual fistula and a probing depth of 9 mm on the distal aspect of tooth 32. A radiographic examination indicated pear-shaped distal bone loss. The fistula was mapped, which confirmed that the lesion had a periodontal origin. A diagnostic hypothesis of a VRF was established. Exploratory surgery revealed the VRF on the distolingual aspect of the root without separation of the root fragments. Conclusion: Knowledge of the diagnostic aspects and the correct interpretation of radiographic images was enough to establish the diagnostic hypothesis of a VRF. However, the conclusive diagnosis was only confirmed during exploratory surgery.

Author Biographies

Pollyanna Queiroz Freitas, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA

Graduate student School of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão

Paulo Maria Santos Rabêlo-Júnior, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA

Associate professor Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão,

Claúdia Maria Coelho Alves, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA

Associate Professor Department of Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão

Soraia de Fatima Carvalho Souza, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA

Associate Professor Department of Endodontics, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Maranhão,

Downloads

Published

2012-01-31

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 1 (2012)

Section

Case Report

License

COPYRIGHT
The submission of originals to Odonto Ciência implies the transfer by the authors of the right for publication. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication. If the authors wish to include the same data into another publication, they must cite Odonto Ciência as the site of original publication.

CREATIVE COMMONS LICENSE
As this journal is open access, the articles are allowed free use in scientific and educational applications, with citation of the source.
According to the type of Creative Commons License (CC-BY 4.0) adopted by Odonto Ciência, the user must respect the requirements below.

You are free to:
Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

However, only under the following terms:
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests Odonto Ciência endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation.
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.

For more details on the Creative Commons license, please follow the link in the footer of this website.