The presence of periapical periodontitis can affect the success of endodontic treatment
Summary
Subjects
A total of 397 patients (200 teeth/489 roots) who received root canal treatment by the same endodontist from March 1994 to June 1995 were examined clinically and radiographically 4 to 5 years after completion of treatment.
Exposure
Of the 397 patients studied, 196 (83 teeth/200 roots) received treatment using protocol A, while 201 (177 teeth / 289 roots) received treatment using protocol B (Table II).
Main Outcome Measure
Clinical findings at follow-up and a comparison of post-obturation and follow-up radiographs were used to determine the success of each treatment protocol. Clinical criteria for success included lack of pain, lack of tenderness to percussion, and lack of associated soft tissue swelling or tenderness to palpation, as well as grade 1 or less tooth mobility and attachment loss of less than 5 mm. Radiographic criteria were complete healing (normal periodontal ligament space [PDL]), incomplete healing (lesion size reduction but return to normal PDL space width), uncertain healing (status of postoperative healing impossible to determine radiographically), and failure to heal (no reduction or increase in size of a previously existing periapical radiolucent area, or increase in width of a previously normal PDL space or its expansion into a new radiolucent area).
Main Results
The overall success rate for the endodontic treatment when both the clinical and radiographic findings were evaluated was 77%. There were no significant differences in outcome between treatment protocols A (78%) and B (76%).
No full text is available. To read the body of this article, please view the PDF online.
Goldman School of Dental Medcine, Boston University Boston, Mass, USA
ABSTRACT