Treatment of molar furcation involvement using root separation and a crownand sleeve-coping telescopic denture. A longitudinal study

Because of the inconsistent results of periodontal and prosthetic therapy, periodontists may choose to treat maxillary molar furcation involvements (F I) with poor root morphology utilizing a root resection technique (RRT). In addition, poor root morphology of the remaining root following RRT is usua lly considered a high risk factor for long-term periodontal and prosthetic success. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the dif ferences in the clinical periodontal parameters between molar abutments wit h and without molar root separation and/or resection (RSR) before and after periodontal and prosthetic therapy, using a crown and sleeve-coping telesc opic denture (CSCTD). A total of 85 molars (47 maxillary and 38 mandibular) were treated in 25 subjects. There were 33 abutments without root separati on/resection and 52 abutments with RSR. Forty-three CSCTD were placed, 23 i n the maxillary arch and 20 in the mandibular arch. The mean observation pe riod was 6.7 +/- 1.9 years (range, 5 to 13 years). The plaque index, gingiv al index, probing depth, clinical attachment level, and alveolar bone chang e were recorded. The differences in these parameters before and after perio dontal and prosthetic therapy between the advanced furcation-involved molar s with and without RSR were evaluated. The re-suits revealed a remarkable i mprovement in the periodontal parameters in advanced Class II and Class III FI in molars with RSR as compared to those without RSR. It was, therefore, concluded that molar abutments with RSR in conjunction with a specifically designed telescopic device provide a modified approach for treating molars with advanced Class II and III FI.