Journal of Oral & Dental Health

Introduction Some anatomical conditions can promote plaque retention, making difficult its removal and facilitating incidence of periodontal lesions [1]. Therefore, the tooth anatomy can play an important role in the periodontal disease etiology, acting as a predisposing factor [2]. Several anatomical root characteristics have been studied and related to the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of periodontal disease [3,4]. Within these morphological changes we can mention the cervical enamel projections, the palatal radicular groove, the enamel pearls, the cervical enamel projections and the root concavities [2,4-10]. These were studied in superior and inferior first molars, superior first molars, inferior first molars, superior first pre-molars, inferior canines and central incisors, superior lateral incisors and superior and inferior first and second molars [3,7,11-16]. Fox and Bosworth (1987), as well as Ong and Neo (1990), measured the width and extension of proximal concavities in several groups of teeth [17,18]. They found that concavities are present in most human teeth, a fact that can complicate periodontal therapy, as well as repair dentistry, if ignored. Thus, root grooves are known risk factor for periodontal diseases.