Apical periodontitis and resoprtion of the root canal wall

The incidence, extent and distribution of root canal wall resorption were studied in 100 extracted human teeth with chronic periapical lesions. Scanning electron microscopy showed that intracanal dentin resorption had occurred in all teeth. There was no difference between teeth with apical granulomas or radicular cysts. The resorption process was generalized and intensive in the apical third of the root canal, whereas the resorption lacunae were more irregularly spread in the middle and cervical thirds of the canal. Intracanal dentin resorption should be taken into account during endodontic treatment, especially when establishing the apical limit of root canal instrumentation.