The ability of cone-beam computerized tomography to detect vertical root fractures in endodontically treated and nonendodontically treated teeth: a report of 3 cases

A definitive diagonosis of vertical root fracture (VRFs) is often a challenging task for clinicians. Two-dimensional periapical radiographs (PRs) may be not helpful in such a diagnosis when the x-ray beam is not parallel to the plane of the fracture line. This report presents a set of 3 cases in which 1 endodontically treated and 2 nonendodontically treated mandibular molars were diagnosed with VRFs based on findings from clinical, radiographic, and cone-beam computerized tomographic (CBCT) examinations. After extraction, VRFs were confirmed in all of the teeth. Deep and narrow periodontal pockets were detected in 2 molars. A widening of the root canal space was observed in the PR of 1 molar only, and crown cracks were detected in none of these cases. However, in all 3 molars, fracture lines were visible on the CBCT images. Thus, CBCT provided useful information in diagnosing VRFs in both endodontically treated and nonendodontically treated teeth, especially when VRFs could not be confirmed by clinical findings and PRs. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011;111:797-801)