Root resorption is usually diagnosed on the basis of history, clinical course, and physical examination. Further medical device diagnostics may be required for differential diagnosis.
Mandatory medical device diagnostics.
- Radiographs in various planes
- Dental film
- Panoramic slice image (overview image)
Optional medical device diagnostics – depending on the results of the history, physical examination, laboratory diagnostics – for differential diagnostic clarification:
- Digital volume tomography (DVT)
- Diagnosis of small internal resorptions
- Diagnostics of a possible perforation
- Three-dimensional detection of a resorption
Radiological characteristics of a root resorption
- External transient resorption:
- Often not detectable radiographically
- External replacement resorption:
- Earliest signs two months after trauma (“dental accident”).
- Periodontal gap (gap between the tooth root and the alveolus (bony tooth compartment) in the jawbone) not detectable
- Inhomogeneous root structure
- Shortened roots as a sign of apical replacement resorption.
- Earliest signs two months after trauma (“dental accident”).
- Infection-related absorption:
- Earliest signs two weeks after trauma
- Translucent areas of varying size with irregular external contour
- “Bowl-shaped” resorption lacunae both in the surrounding bone and in the root
- In the course of continuous resorption
- Earliest signs two weeks after trauma
- Internal absorption:
- Symmetrical lumen enlargement (“diameter”) of the root canal.
- Mostly round or oval
- Defect remains centered in different projections.
- Invasive cervical resorption:
- Root canal wall normally confined
- Defect “migrates” depending on the selected projection.
