Australian Dental Council (ADC) Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Internal resorption typically occurs as a response to trauma to the dental pulp or, more commonly, to an inflammatory process. The pulp can become inflamed due to various factors, with dental caries being a significant contributor. When decay reaches the pulp chamber, the body's response can lead to the activation of osteoclasts, which are the cells responsible for bone resorption. This process ultimately leads to the breakdown of the dentin from the inside out.

While trauma can indeed provoke resorption, it is more often associated with external resorption. Similarly, periodontal disease primarily affects the supporting structures of the tooth and is not the main catalytic factor for internal resorption. Excessive fluoride exposure can lead to dental fluorosis or other enamel defects, but it does not directly cause internal resorption. Hence, dental caries stands out as the primary factor that triggers the internal resorption process through inflammation and pulp involvement.