A study of the panoramic radiographic images of the buccolingual dilaceration

Kim, Young Ho; Jeong, Hwan Seok; Huh, Kyung Hoe; Yi, Won Jin; Heo, Min Suk; Lee, Sam Sun; Choi, Soon Chul

Abstract

PURPOSE
We want to identify the appearance of the buccolingual root dilaceration teeth in the panoramic views and specify the characteristics of these teeth.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
One thousand-six patients were examined on the basis of both panoramic and CT image criteria. We diagnosed and excluded certain teeth from the samples; both prosthodontic or pathologic lesion appearing teeth and mesiodistally dilacerated ones. We meticulously discerned buccolingually dilacerated teeth in the CT images and total 48 samples were selected. The degree of severity in dilaceration was standardized by 2 types of criteria. The samples were differentiated into 3 groups and again categorized into six types showing from the panoramic views: irregular view on the root apex area, clear blunt on the root tip, stepping on root tip, double lamina dura or double tip, arrow-target shaped root, bull's eye, normal view.
RESULTS
The types of teeth selected from total 48 buccolingual root dilaceration samples were mandibular first and second molar, premolars, canines, and lateral incisors. The direction of dilaceration was an even percentage to each buccal and lingual side for most selected teeth, however, that of both canines and lateral incisors were directed in almost a buccal side. In the panoramic views, the root types of the buccolingually dilacerated teeth were irregular view on the root apex area, clear blunt on the root tip, stepping on root tip and normal types were almost always normal view. The more severity in dilareated degree, the more chances of observation in the panoramic views were clear blunt on the root tip and stepping on root tip.
CONCLUSION
As observed in the shape of stepping on root tip or double lamina dura in the panoramic views, there can be much more probability to diagnose as a buccolingually dilacerated root.