Resumo

CARVALHO, Rosany Laurentina Santos de et al. Evaluation of root fracture using digital images with angular. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. [online]. 2015, vol.15, n.2, pp. 07-14. ISSN 1808-5210.

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of changing horizontal angle during periapical radiography on the diagnosis of VRFs in endodontically treated teeth. Twenty-two single-rooted premolars with straight root canals and apex formation were divided into groups: Group 1 (control) - two non-fractured teeth, one of them with intraradicular post; Group 2 - ten fractured teeth; and Group 3 - ten fractured teeth with intraradicular post. Specimens were subjected to compression testing with a load of 200 kg at a speed of 0.5 mm/min. Periapical radiographs were obtained (70 kVp, 10mA, and 0.3 sec exposure time) in a Digora™ system at horizontal angles in the orthoradial direction and with a 25º angle shift to the right and to the left. Images were evaluated by five endodontists. The diagnosis of fractured and non-fractured roots was higher for the first premolar (51.6%) than for the second premolar (43.1%). The presence of VRFs was recorded in 60.9% of cases for the first premolar, and in 66.7% for the second premolar. Presence of VRFs showed a statistically significant association with presence of intraradicular post and angle variation in the second premolar (p=0.011). These results suggest that changes in horizontal angulation, may optimize the diagnosis of VRFs.

Palavras-chave : Endodontics; Diagnostic Imaging; Dental fissures; Tooth fractures.