Comparison of external apical root resorption in maxillary incisors subsequent to fixed orthodontic treatment among late adolescents, young adults, and middle-aged adults

Background: External apical root resorption (EARR) is a common iatrogenic complication following orthodontic treatment. Due to the increasing demand for orthodontic treatment among adults, there has been a rise in the number of middle-aged patients. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of EARR in these patients in comparison to younger patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional retrospective analytical study was performed on panoramic radiographs taken before and one year after the initiation of orthodontic treatment in ۷۸ patients in three age groups. The first group consisted of ۲۸ patients aged ۱۷-۲۵ years(adolescents), the second group consisted of ۲۸ patients aged ۲۵-۳۵ years(younger adults), and the third group consisted of ۲۲ patients aged ۴۰-۵۰ years( middle aged). The outline of the maxillary incisors was traced onto acetate sheets from panoramic radiographs and compared. The collected data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon (α= ۰.۰۵). Results: The mean EARR in the adolescents, younger adults, and middle-aged groups showed no significant difference in the right central (P=۰.۳۲۲) and left central (P=۰.۲۸۹) incisors. No significant difference was seen in the right lateral (P=۰.۳۵۸) and left lateral (P=۰.۷۳۹) incisors. The average amount of external root resorption in the upper incisors was similar in men and women (P>۰.۰۵). Also, there was no significant difference between the two treatment methods in the right central (P=۰.۲۳۲), left central (P=۰.۲۰۴), right lateral (P=۰.۲۰۴), and left lateral (P=۰.۸۸۲) incisors. Conclusion: The mean EARR was similar between studied groups. External apical root resorption did not show correlation with age and gender