Furcation defect

The distance between the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) and the furcation entrance is called the root trunk length.

For maxillary first premolars, there is a bifurcation 40% of the time and the mean root trunk length is 8 mm from both mesial and distal.

The treatment aims are to eliminate the bacteria from the exposed surface of the root(s) and to establish the anatomy of the tooth, so that better plaque control can be achieved.

For Grade II furcation, furcationplasty, open debridement,[5][7] tunnel preparation,[5] root resection,[5] extraction,[5] guided tissue regeneration (GTR)[7][5][6] or enamel matrix derivative could be considered.

As for Grade III furcation, open debridement,[5][7] tunnel preparation,[5] root resection,[5][6] GTR,[7][5] or tooth extraction[5] could be performed if appropriate.

Bone loss from aggressive periodontitis that led to an exposed furcation on an upper molar. In health, the bone exists about a millimeter and a half away from the cementoenamel junction , which is the line that separates the crown from the root trunk (the line can be seen clearly in the photo).
Evidence of furcal bone loss on #18 (lower left permanent second molar), along with a mesial vertical defect on the same tooth. The bent "stick" on the left of the tooth is a piece of gutta percha being used to trace the defect.