The radicular groove: Its potential clinical significance

This report examines three clinical cases of root-filled teeth with primary endodontic lesions. During endodontic surgery, an area of incomplete root bifurcation beginning in the coronal or middle third of the root surface an d terminating at or near the apical foramen were observed. The radicular gr ooves of two teeth were eliminated using a round bur ("saucerization"), and the resulting defect was filled with a bone substitute or calcium sulfate and covered by an absorbable collagen membrane. The other tooth was extract ed, the groove was eliminated with a similar technique, and the tooth was r eplanted. Bacteria have been reported in chronic epical lesions. Our observ ations suggest that after conventional endodontic therapy, the etiology of a nonresolving primary endodontic lesion may be bacteria of endodontic orig in sequestered within the protective confines of an apical-radicular groove .