Calcium Hydroxide: Effect on resorption

Inflammatory resorption of the root surface occurs in response to a necrotic and infected root canal, and may be extremely rapid causing tooth loss in months if left untreated. Root canal treatment is essential when inflammatory root resorption is evident or imminent, and calcium hydroxide is the current medicament of choice for this purpose (Trope 1995). Prolonged use of calcium hydroxide with multiple changes of the dressing may lead to necrosis of cells trying to recolonize the cementum surface. While this finding may suggest that the time of treatment with calcium hydroxide in these cases may be kept short (1 to 2 weeks) for prevention of inflammatory root resorption, long-term placement of calcium hydroxide remains a clinically proven procedure in the treatment of resorption (Trope 1995).

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