OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors relating to root resorption after orthodontic treatment.

METHODS96 cases treated with fixed appliances were selected. The panoramic radiographs before and after treatment were examined. The relationship between root resorption after treatment (RRAT) and the variables including sex, age, extraction or nonextraction approach, tooth location, treatment duration and the root resorption before treatment (RRBT) were analyzed by multiple variance analysis and stepwise multivariate linear regression analyses.

RESULTS(1) There were statistically significant differences in root resorption in relation to gender (estimate of RRAT for female: 0.41, that for male: 0.34), extraction (estimate of RRAT for the extraction group: 0.43, that for non-extraction: 0.31), anterior or posterior teeth (estimate of RRAT for the anterior teeth: 0.59, that for the posterior teeth: 0.12). (2) The estimate of RRAT for the upper teeth was 0.40, and that for the lower teeth was 0.37. There were no statistically significant differences. (3) Using multiple regression analysis, age, duration and RRBT were associated with RRAT (R = 0.59, R(2) = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS(1) Factors including gender, extraction or not and anterior or posterior teeth have influences on the RRAT. More root resorption was found in female or extraction cases. Anterior teeth were more susceptible to root resorption relative to posterior teeth. (2) Age, treatment duration and RRBT can explain approximately 35% of the RRAT. Root resorption aggregated when it was present before treatment. The age and treatment duration were lightly related to the root resorption.