A demographic analysis of root fractures in Chinese population: CBCT evaluation

The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and distribution patterns of root fractures using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). We retrospectively analyzed the imaging data of 539 patients who underwent CBCT examination and were diagnosed with root fracture. The occurrence of root fractures was investigated and the findings were analyzed using cross-tabulation. Patients with root fractures were predominantly 50–69 years old. It was more common in males than in females. Among root fracture cases analyzed by tooth type, the proportion of endodontically treated teeth in premolars (37.50%) and molars (35.92%) was higher compared to anterior teeth (18.18%) (P < 0.05). The pattern of root fractures varied by tooth location: vertical root fractures (VRFs) were more frequent in molars, while horizontal root fractures (HRFs) were more common in anterior teeth. The first molars exhibited the highest incidence of root fractures (50.43%). Among maxillary first molars, the mesiobuccal roots had the highest fracture rate (50.31%), predominantly as VRFs (P < 0.05), followed by the palatal roots (38.36%) and the distobuccal roots (11.32%). The mesial root fractures of mandibular first molars (81.56%) were more frequent than the distal roots (18.44%), with VRF being the predominant type (P < 0.05). Root fractures exhibit variations across age, gender, tooth location and and whether endodontic treatment was performed. Furthermore, the incidence rates of root fracture types differ among various tooth locations and individual roots. These findings provide detailed epidemiological data that can aid in the diagnosis and clinical evaluation of root fractures.