Influence of the variations in radiographic angle of incidence on the diagnosis of oblique crown-root fractures

The objective of this study was to verify the influence of radiographic angle of incidence on the diagnosis of oblique crown-root fractures. After root fracture diagnosis involving mandibular central incisors, an extraction of the right mandibular central incisor (tooth #41) was accomplished, and then radiographs were taken at different angles of incidence: 0° and 10° to 60° (positive and negative). Two fracture lines in the apical and medium thirds were invariably observed, except for the 60° negative angle, whose image showed just one fracture line located at the apical third. It can be concluded that when the occurrence of oblique fracture is suspected at least three radiographic incidences should beaccomplished in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis.