Conservative Management of Class 4 Invasive Cervical Root Resorption Using Calcium-enriched Mixture Cement

Class 4 invasive cervical root resorption (ICRR) presents a treatment dilemma in endodontics. The widely accepted treatment options for a class 4 ICRR are to leave these teeth untreated for as long as they are asymptomatic or extraction. This report presents a conservative approach for the management of class 4 ICRR. A 28-year-old woman was referred for root canal treatment of tooth #26. The patient had a history of orthodontic treatment. Radiographic evaluation showed class 4 ICRR that had perforated the root canal space, a radiolucent crestal bony defect, and a periapical lesion. Clinically, a deep (6-mm) probing area was found on the mesial side of the tooth that bled on probing. The tooth was sensitive to percussion. After the treatment options were discussed with the patient, she chose to save the tooth. After complete chemomechanical preparation of the root canal, the entire canal space and perforation area were filled with calcium-enriched mixture cement. No attempt was made to mechanically remove the resorptive lacuna. Twenty four months after treatment, the tooth was functional and asymptomatic, and probing was within normal limits (<3 mm) with no bleeding during probing. Radiographic examination revealed no progression of resorption, osseous healing of the crestal bony defect, and healing of the periapical lesion. Obturation of the root canal space with calcium-enriched mixture cement may be a viable treatment option for an otherwise non-treatable tooth with class 4 invasive cervical root resorption.