The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of root concavities on clinical attachment loss (CAL) that was diagnosed at the initial evaluation of periodontal patients. CAL data were analyzed in the following teeth of 163 patients: upper and lower second and first bicuspids, cuspids, lateral and central incisors. Data were retrieved from the initial dental chart of patients seeking treatment at the Periodontics Graduate Clinic, School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo. Probing was accomplished in every tooth. The following measurements were recorded: CEJ-GM, PD and CAL. PD was performed at 6 sites: mesial-buccal (MB), central-buccal (CB), distal-buccal (DB), mesial-lingual (ML), central-lingual (CL) and distal-lingual (DL). Data from all teeth present were included when, at least, one site with CAL<FONT FACE="Symbol"> ³</font> 4mm was observed. After statistical analysis (Friedman and Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA tests) CB and CL sites showed CAL values statistically lower for all upper teeth and for lower first bicuspid, cuspid and lateral incisors. Clinically, CB showed the lowest CAL values in every analyzed teeth, which was followed by CL. The presence of root concavities should not be underestimated either during clinical examination, diagnosis, prognosis, surgical or supportive periodontal treatment. Nevertheless, based on our results, it was not possible to assure that the differences found in CAL values were due to root concavities.
Periodontal attachment loss; Tooth root
