Abstract
The present study investigated patterns of root resorption in mandibular primary molars of Saudi children. The dental records of a randomly selected 460 Saudi children matched by age and gender who were treated in pediatric dentistry clinics at College of Dentistry, King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were reviewed. Primary mandibular molar teeth were identified on the digital panoramic radiographs that were taken as part of the children's routine examinations. A trained and calibrated single examiner carried out all the examination procedures. The parameters such as symmetry and the level of mesial or the distal root resorption were investigated. The collected data were recorded on a special form and statistically computed. There were statistically significant differences in the distribution of the level of root resorption in the primary first and second molars; both the mesial and distal roots showed significantly less than a quarter root resorption followed by one-fourth to three-fourth levels of root resorption (p<0.001). The majority of the root resorption occurred symmetrically for the primary first (63.7%) and second (71.1%) molars. The resorption in the distal roots were comparatively more than the mesial roots in the primary first molars and vice versa in case of the primary second molars. A relatively high incidence of uneven level of root resorption was evident, more in the mandibular second primary molars with majority of the primary molars exhibiting less than a quarter root resorption. This requires close monitoring to ensure prevention of over-retention of primary molars. Though symmetrical resorption of mesial and distal roots of primary molars was observed in this study, variations does occur.