Contemporary management of lateral root perforation diagnosed with the aid of dental computed tomography

Lateral root perforation unnoticed during post-space preparation, and followed by post cementation, can subsequently be challenging to diagnose in the labio-lingual plane due to the two-dimensional nature of conventional radiography. This paper demonstrates the application of a recently developed three-dimensional imaging system, cone beam computed tomography, in the diagnosis of iatrogenic root perforation. A clinical case is reported where labial post perforation in a maxillary central incisor occurring 15 years previously presented with a sinus tract and radiolucent lesion. Non-surgical retreatment and perforation repair using mineral trioxide aggregate was performed with the aid of an operating microscope. The sinus tract resolved with radiographic evidence of healing at 1-year recall.