The right maxillary second premolar (106) has external replacement root resorption progressing into the crown. A painful defect is in the near future. Extraction of both roots is indicated. The root tip of the right maxillary first premolar (105) is present with a lucency and should be extracted.
The fourth premolar (108) an first molar (109) in this dog are affected. Tooth 109 has extensive crown destruction. Both teeth should be surgically extracted.
Often teeth that are undergoing crown resorption will have a pink hue due the changes in mineral consistency in the crown.
The radiograph is of the clinical incisors shown above. Subgingival crown amputation and intentional root retention can be considered as a treatment option followed by surgical closure of the gingiva. However, there are no long term studies evaluating the success of such a treatment recommendation.
Occasionally we encounter replacement resorption with bone replacing the resorbing root structure and obliteration of the periodontal ligament space. In this case a subgingival crown amputation and intentional root retention is possible. The gingiva must be sutured over the bone with no tension.
