Coronal and root fractures in teeth are the third major cause of dental loss after caries and periodontal disease, being responsible for 4.3% of endodontic failures.1 Of these, maxillary premolars account for more than half of the fractured teeth.2,3 Some etiological factors reported are dentine dehydration due to endodontic treatment, unique anatomic features, loss of dentine structure due to caries, access preparation and excessive canal preparation. Although some studies have demonstrated that neither dehydration nor endodontic treatment altered the mechanical properties of dentine, it is worth mentioning that the loss of structural integrity owing to caries, previous restorative work or access preparation can predispose teeth that have been endodontically treated to fracturing at a greater frequency than teeth with vital pulps.4–6 Moreover, this predisposition increases proportionally with the amount of dentine removed.7...
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