Furcation involvement (FI) is the lesion and destruction of periodontium that spread to the root furcation of multi-root teeth, where periodontal pockets, loss of periodontal attachment and resorption of alveolar bone are formed. Furcation involvement is a common concomitant lesion of periodontitis. The severity of furcation involvement can directly affect the prognosis of periodontitis. However, the specificity of the anatomical structure of the root furcation greatly increases the difficulty of treatment. Therefore, early detection and treatment of furcation involvement is crucial for the prevention and control of periodontitis. This paper briefly describes the pathogenesis of furcation involvement and discusses the diagnosis, classification and treatment of this disease, which is helpful to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of furcation involvement.
Humans ; Molar ; Furcation Defects/therapy* ; Periodontitis/complications* ; Periodontal Pocket ; Prognosis

Conventional periodontal regenerative surgery has limited effect on tooth with severe periodontitis-related alveolar bone defects. This article reported a case of regenerative treatment in severe distal-bone defect of mandibular first molar. The treatment involved applying 3D printing, advanced/injectable platelet-rich fibrin, and guided tissue-regeneration technology. After the operation, the periodontal clinical index significantly improved and the alveolar bone was well reconstructed.
Humans ; Platelet-Rich Fibrin ; Follow-Up Studies ; Digital Technology ; Furcation Defects/drug therapy* ; Periodontitis ; Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal

Due to the complicated anatomical structures in the furcation area of multirooted mandibular first molars, dental hygiene is greatly compromised once the furcation is involved in the periodontitis, leading to the unfavorable prognosis of teeth with furcation involvement. A patient came to a dental office with the chief complaint of "mobile mandibular posterior tooth" 27 years ago. The periapical film showed alveolar bone resorption at the root furcation of the right mandibular first molar. Flap surgery and fine supportive therapy were conducted. The patient was diagnosed with "furcation involvement Class Ⅲ" during a revisit three years ago. Satisfactory and healthy periodontal statuses were observed 2, 9, 24, and 33 months after the periodontal flap surgery plus tunneling procedures. A follow-up of 27 years in the present case demonstrated that a favorable prognosis of furcation involvement can be achieved after adequate periodontal treatment.
Follow-Up Studies ; Furcation Defects/surgery* ; Humans ; Mandible ; Molar ; Periodontitis

OBJECTIVE: Tissues loss due to periodontal disease is typically treated by a variety of regenerative treatment modalities, including bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration (GTR) and growth factors, to reform the supporting tissues of teeth. Concentrated growth factors (CGF) are produced by centrifuging blood samples at alternating and controlled speeds using a special centrifuge. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether GTR could improve the effect of CGF combined with bone graft in the treatment of classII furcations of mandibular molars. METHODS: In the present study, thirty-five classII furcation involvements were included and randomly divided into two groups. The experimental group (n=17) accepted GTR combined with CGF and bone graft therapy, and the controlled group (n=18) accepted CGF combined with bone graft therapy. The clinical examinations and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) were performed at baseline and 1 year post-surgery. Comparisons of clinical and CBCT data before and after operation between the experimental group and the control group were made. RESULTS: The clinical and CBCT data of both groups were not statistically different at baseline (P>0.05). At the end of 1 year post-surgery, the clinical parameters of both groups were significantly improved (P<0.001). The probing depths of the experimental group were (4.81±1.95) mm and (3.56±1.94) mm, respectively, significantly higher than the changes of the control group (P<0.001). The vertical and horizontal attachment gains of the experimental group were (4.11±1.98) mm and (3.84±1.68) mm, respectively, significantly higher than the changes of the control group (P<0.001). At the end of 1 year post-surgery, the experimental group showed significantly higher bone gain at vertical and horizontal directions compared with those of the control group: (3.84±1.68) and (3.88±2.12) mm, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Within the limitation of the present study, GTR showed positive role in the effect of CGF combined with bone graft in the treatment of classII furcation involvements of mandibular molars.
Bone Transplantation ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Furcation Defects ; Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal ; Humans ; Molar ; Periodontal Attachment Loss

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting furcation involvement (FI) in maxillary molars. METHODS: Thirty-one maxillary molars of 15 patients with generalized chronic periodontitis considered for furcation surgery were assessed. Clinical examination and CBCT were performed, and the FI degree was evaluated. Clinical and CBCT-based FI assessments were compared with intrasurgical data. RESULTS: The agreement between clinical and intrasurgical assessments was weak in all sites, with a kappa of less than 0.4; the complete, overestimated, and underestimated agreement percentages were 42.0%, 24.7%, and 33.3%, respectively. The agreement between the CBCT and intrasurgical assessments was strong, with a ka ppa of 0.831; the complete, overestimated, and underestimated agreement percentages were 88.2%, 3.2%, and 8.6%, respectively. The agreement between both assessments was the highest in the buccal furcation entrance (κ=0.896), followed by that in the distopalatal (κ=0.822) and mesiopalatal (κ=0.767) furcation entrances. CONCLUSIONS CBCT images demonstrated high accuracy in assessing the horizontal bone loss of FI in maxillary molars.
Chronic Periodontitis ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Furcation Defects ; Humans ; Molar

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the tooth loss status of mandibular molars with furcation involvements after 5-year non-surgical periodontal treatment, and to analyze the factors that affected the tooth loss. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted in 79 patients with chronic periodontitis, who had received non-surgical periodontal treatment and 5 years of periodontal maintenance treatment in Department of Periodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology from 1988 to 2012. Their clinical indexes, including probing depth (PD), bleeding index (BI), furcation index (FI) and tooth mobility were both evaluated before treatment and at the last time of the maintenance treatment. Bone resorption at furcation area was measured at the first visit by periapical radiographs taken by professional doctors of medical imaging. The status of tooth loss after 5-year non-surgical periodontal treatment on mandibular molars with furcation involvement, and the factors that affected the tooth loss were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) Non-surgical treatment was significantly effective on the changes of PD in the patients of chronic periodontitis with furcation involvement, while the presence of furcation involvement could affect the improvement of PD here. (2) PD at the furcation area, tooth mobility, vertical bone resorption, and bone resorption area were all significant risk factors of mandibular molar missing (P<0.001), and the same with FI=3 and FI=4 (P=0.017, P=0.007), while age (P=0.703), gender (P=0.243) and smoking history (P=0.895) were not related to the tooth loss in this study. (3) The risk of tooth loss in mandibular molars with FI≥3 were significantly higher than those with FI≤2, and the survival rate of the former was less than 50%. CONCLUSION The loss of mandibular molars with furcation involvement was related to the furcation involvement, meanwhile the degree of furcation involvement and bone resorption can significantly increase the risk of tooth loss.
Chronic Periodontitis ; Furcation Defects ; Humans ; Molar ; Retrospective Studies ; Tooth Loss

PURPOSE: This study aimed to carry out a systematic review of studies in the literature comparing conventional imaging techniques with cone-beam computed tomography in terms of the role of these techniques for assessing any of the following periodontal conditions and parameters: infrabony defects, furcation involvement, height of the alveolar bone crest, and the periodontal ligament space. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Interventional and observational studies comparing conventional imaging techniques with cone-beam computed tomography were considered eligible for inclusion. The MEDLINE and Embase databases were searched for articles published through 2017. The PRISMA statement was followed during data assessment and extraction. RESULTS: The search strategy yielded 351 publications. An initial screening of the publications was performed using abstracts and key words, and after the application of exclusion criteria, 13 studies were finally identified as eligible for review. CONCLUSION: These studies revealed cone-beam computed tomography to be the best imaging technique to assess infrabony defects, furcation lesions, the height of the alveolar bone crest, and the periodontal ligament space.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Furcation Defects ; Mass Screening ; Periodontal Ligament ; Periodontics

PURPOSE: Furcation involvement in the molars is difficult to treat, and has been recognized as a risk factor for tooth loss. Although periodontal regenerative therapies, including guided tissue regeneration and various types of bone grafts, have been applied to furcation defects, the effects of these treatments are limited, especially in large class III furcation defects. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of reciprocal autologous root transplantation on periodontal wound healing and regeneration in class III furcation defects in dogs. METHODS: Furcation defects (7 mm wide and 6 mm high) were surgically created after root separation of the unilateral third and fourth premolars in 4 dogs. Eight furcation defects were randomized to receive either reciprocal autologous root transplantation (test) or no further treatment (control). In the test group, the mesial and distal roots were transplanted into the distal and mesial extraction sockets, respectively. The animals were sacrificed 10 weeks after surgery for histologic evaluation. RESULTS: The healing pattern in the control group was characterized by extensive collapse of the flap and limited periodontal regeneration. New bone formation in the test group (3.56±0.57 mm) was significantly greater than in the control group (0.62±0.21 mm). Dense collagen fibers inserting into the residual cementum on the transplanted root surfaces were observed in the test group. Slight ankylosis was observed in 2 of the 4 specimens in the test group on the mesiodistal sides where the root-planed surfaces faced the existing bone. Root resorption (RR) was detected in both the control and test groups. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, it can be concluded that reciprocal autologous root transplantation was effective for bone regeneration in class III furcation defects in dogs. However, further studies are required to standardize the approach in order to prevent unwanted RR prior to clinical application.
Animals ; Ankylosis ; Bicuspid ; Bone Regeneration ; Collagen ; Dental Cementum ; Dogs ; Furcation Defects* ; Guided Tissue Regeneration ; Models, Animal ; Molar ; Osteogenesis ; Periodontal Diseases ; Periodontal Ligament ; Pilot Projects ; Regeneration ; Risk Factors ; Root Resorption ; Tooth Loss ; Transplants ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the diagnosis of incipient furcation involvement with periapical radiography (PR) and 2 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging protocols, and to test metal artifact interference. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mandibular second molars in 10 macerated pig mandibles were divided into those that showed no furcation involvement and those with lesions in the furcation area. Exams using PR and 2 different CBCT imaging protocols were performed with and without a metallic post. Each image was analyzed twice by 2 observers who rated the absence or presence of furcation involvement according to a 5-point scale. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the observations. RESULTS: The accuracy of the CBCT imaging protocols ranged from 67.5% to 82.5% in the images obtained with a metallic post and from 72.5% to 80% in those without a metallic post. The accuracy of PR ranged from 37.5% to 55% in the images with a metallic post and from 42.5% to 62.5% in those without a metallic post. The area under the ROC curve values for the CBCT imaging protocols ranged from 0.813 to 0.802, and for PR ranged from 0.503 to 0.448. CONCLUSION: Both CBCT imaging protocols showed higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity than PR in the detection of incipient furcation involvement. Based on these results, CBCT may be considered a reliable tool for detecting incipient furcation involvement following a clinical periodontal exam, even in the presence of a metallic post.
Animals* ; Artifacts ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Diagnosis ; Furcation Defects ; Mandible ; Molar ; Radiography* ; Radiography, Dental ; ROC Curve ; Sensitivity and Specificity

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare tooth surface characteristics in extracted human molars after cervical enamel projections (CEPs) were removed with the use of three rotating instruments. METHODS: We classified 60 extracted molars due to periodontal lesion with CEPs into grade I, II, or III, according to the Masters and Hoskins' criteria. Each group contained 20 specimens. Three rotating instruments were used to remove the CEPs: a piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler, a periodontal bur, and a diamond bur. Tooth surface characteristics before and after removal of the projections were then evaluated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We analyzed the characteristics of the tooth surfaces with respect to roughness and whether the enamel projections had been completely removed. RESULTS: In SEM images, surfaces treated with the diamond bur were smoothest, but this instrument caused considerable harm to tooth structures near the CEPs. The piezoelectric ultrasonic scaler group produced the roughest surface but caused less harm to the tooth structure near the furcation. In general, the surfaces treated with the periodontal bur were smoother than those treated with the ultrasonic scaler, and the periodontal bur did not invade adjacent tooth structures. CONCLUSIONS: For removal of grade II CEPs, the most effective instrument was the diamond bur. However, in removing grade III projections, the diamond bur can destroy both adjacent tooth structures and the periodontal apparatus. In such cases, careful use of the periodontal bur may be an appropriate substitute.
Dental Enamel* ; Dental Instruments ; Furcation Defects ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Molar* ; Root Planing ; Tooth ; Ultrasonics