MAXILLARY INCISOR ROOT FORMS IN ORTHODONTIC PATIENTS IN NAIROBI, KENYA

ABSTRACTObjective: To evaluate, radiographically, the root forms of maxillary incisors in a sampleof patients seeking orthodontic treatment in Nairobi, Kenya.Design: A retrospective study of maxillary incisor root forms based on periapicalradiographs.Setting: A private dental clinic in Nairobi, Kenya.Materials and Methods: The study comprised 393 maxillary incisors in 100 consecutivesubjects(51 boys, 49 girls) aged 9-24 years. Intra-oral periapical radiographs of theincisors were evaluated. An index was used to categorise the roots as follows: 0=normal,1=short, 2-blunt, 3=apical bend, 4=pippete apex.Results: Normal root form was recorded in 60%, short in 12.5%, blunt in 7%, apicalbend in 13%, and pippete-apex in 7% of the roots. Sixty nine percent of the pippeteapexroots were in central incisors and 94% of the roots with apical bend were in lateralincisors. Seventy three percent of short roots were in females.Conclusion: Based on evidence from previous studies on risk of root resorption whichindicates that pipette and blunt roots are the forms mostly involved in this phenomenon,the present data imply that about 14% of the roots may have been at risk of moderateto severe resorption during fixed orthodontic treatment