Abstract

SANTOS, Bianca Zimmermann; BOSCO, Vera Lúcia; SILVA, Juliana Yassue Barbosa da  and  CORDEIRO, Mabel Mariela Rodríguez. Physiological and pathological factors and mechanisms in the process of root resorption in primary teeth. RSBO (Online) [online]. 2010, vol.7, n.3, pp. 332-339. ISSN 1984-5685.

INTRODUCTION: Tooth resorption is essential in the process of root resorption in primary teeth. However, pathological root resorption, mainly the inflammatory one, is a consequence and/or complication of several clinical conditions, such as dental trauma and periapical inflammatory lesions from dental caries, thus becoming a common cause of tooth loss. OBJECTIVE: To present and discuss a literature review regarding the mechanisms of physiological and inflammatory pathological root resorption in primary teeth, emphasizing their biochemical and cellular events. LITERATURE REVIEW: The odontoclasts cells are responsible for resorption of dental tissues, and they are influenced by several stimuli and molecular signals derived from cytokines, neuropeptides, hormones and degradation products released when tissue is injured. However, so far it is not clear what leads to the differentiation of the precursor cells of odontoclasts, what gives them the signal to start the resorption in a specific place and time (especially in primary teeth) and why they are activated in some pathological conditions, but not in others. CONCLUSION: The knowledge regarding molecular mechanisms and factors that regulate the process of root resorption is still meager. Research in this area is of great relevance, since new knowledge about the molecular pathway(s) involved in root resorption may allow the development of different therapies, more biological ones, in order to control or prevent resorption, thus preventing tooth loss and its consequences.

Keywords : root resorption; tooth; Dentistry.