The radicular palatal groove – a therapeutic modality

Abstract A radicular palatal groove may be present in about 8.5% of the population, mainly in maxillary lateral incisors. Often this condition predisposes periodontal defects and severe bone destruction, which have been considered untreatable, and extraction has been recommended as a solution. In this report a case is presented of a radicular palatal groove in a maxillary lateral incisor that caused an advanced periodontal defect and pulp necrosis. Like other such cases, this case presented first as an endodontic problem, and was diagnosed by the endodontist. Periodontal surgery failed to resolve the lesion. Filling of the groove by means of amalgam resulted in disappearance of symptoms and closure of the pocket, accompanied by restoration of the lamina dura. The suggested technique was advantageous over previously published treatment modalities, as it effectively eliminated the groove as a pathway of contamination, without loss of tooth substance and without exposure of cut dentin. It is also suitable for treating deep grooves communicating with the root canal.