Specialist diagnosis and management of internal and external root resorption using CBCT 3D imaging, the operating microscope, and bioceramic repair materials — at our Wollongong practice.
Root resorption is the progressive loss of tooth structure caused by the activity of clastic cells inside the root canal (internal resorption) or on the outer surface of the root (external resorption). It is usually painless in early stages and is often discovered incidentally on routine radiographs. Early specialist diagnosis and CBCT-guided treatment offers the best chance of saving the tooth.
Conventional 2D radiographs are a poor tool for resorption: they cannot reliably distinguish internal from external types, cannot accurately measure extent, and often underestimate the depth of the lesion. Misdiagnosis from 2D imaging alone is one of the most common reasons resorption cases are treated inappropriately.
CBCT 3D imaging is the specialist standard for resorption assessment. A small field-of-view CBCT allows the clinician to:
CBCT is available on-site at our Wollongong practice and reported as part of the consultation fee.
Resorption prognosis depends almost entirely on early diagnosis and accurate classification. Early, contained lesions with intact canal walls have good long-term outcomes. Large subcrestal lesions, perforated canal walls, or advanced replacement resorption may not be saveable — and extraction with implant planning is sometimes the more predictable option.
We provide an honest, CBCT-based prognosis before any treatment is commenced so patients and referring dentists can make fully informed decisions.
The pink discolouration visible through the enamel of a crown is the classical external cervical resorption presentation — highly vascular granulation tissue resorbing the dentine from the side, visible through the translucent enamel. If you notice a pink tinge on an otherwise healthy-looking tooth, early specialist assessment is strongly advised.
Early resorption is usually painless and discovered incidentally on routine radiographs. Pain typically develops only if the lesion perforates the canal wall and contaminates the pulp, or if the lesion reaches the periodontal tissues and provokes inflammation. Painless early-stage resorption is the most treatable — which is why incidental radiographic findings should not be ignored.
Refer as early as the suspicion is raised. Common triggers for referral include an unexplained radiolucency on the root, a pink spot visible through the crown, a history of dental trauma or avulsion, previous internal bleaching of a non-vital tooth, or progressive widening of the canal on sequential radiographs. Early specialist CBCT assessment is the difference between a saveable tooth and an extraction.
Once the resorptive tissue is removed and the defect sealed with MTA or bioceramic material, the resorption itself does not typically recur. What we do monitor for at review is (a) recurrence of any associated periapical infection and (b) late complications such as ankylosis or loss of periodontal attachment around the repair. Routine 6- and 12-month reviews are built into the treatment plan.
South West Sydney patients may prefer our sister practice — Southwest Endodontic Centre, Liverpool →.