RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE PREVALENCE AND LOCATION OF ROOT RESORPTION IN EPILEPTIC PATIENTS: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: Antiepileptic drugs used in the treatment of epilepsy patients have a negative effect on bone tissue, but as far as we know, tooth root resorption has not been investigated in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of external and internal root resorption and its distribution according to resorption sites in epilepsy patients using antiepileptic drugs. Material and Methods: Panoramic radiographs obtained before dental treatment were evaluated. While the case group consisted of only those with epilepsy, the control group included healthy subjects. The presence/absence of external and internal resorption of all teeth (except the third molars), region of resorption (cervical, middle, and apical region of the root), age, and sex were recorded in an excel file. Independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test according to normality of distribution and a chi-square test to compare categorical variables were used. Results: The resorption in 93 (21.9%) of 424 patients (236 healthy subjects and 188 epileptic patients), the groups did not significantly differ by the presence of external and internal resorption (p = 0.089 and 0.746). It was more common in those over 30 years and males (p = 0.018 and 0.013). Conclusion: We concluded that the presence of resorption in epilepsy patients was not different from healthy subjects. However, in patients with epilepsy, resorption was mostly seen in the lower molars and middle 1/3 regions. Clinicians should consider our results when treating these patients.