Assessment of the quality of endodontic re-treatment and changes in periapical status on a postgraduate endodontic clinic

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess endodontic retreatment outcomes based on quality of obturation and healing.

Materials and Methods: A total number of 223 radiographs of patients who had received endodontic retreatment during the period (2008–2015) at a postgraduate teaching clinic were selected. Unreadable radiographs were all excluded. From the original sample of 223 in total 24 radiographs were discarded. The final sample thus consisted of 199 root canal fillings. All radiographs were individually evaluated for the density of the root filling as well as the distance between the end of the root canal filling and radiographic apex based on a six-point scoring system. Subsequently, patients were reviewed and follow up periapical radiographs were exposed. The outcome of healing was assessed using the Periapical Index (PAI) scoring system. The data were analysed using Chi Square test (p < 0.05).

Results: The study revealed that 78.9 % of the endodontic retreatments were both homogeneity and length acceptable. The corresponding figure was only 13.1 % before endodontic retreatment. Conversely, homogeneity and length unacceptable before endodontic retreatment was 47.2 % reducing to a mere 2.5 % after retreatment. The results were statistically significant (P < 0.001). There was over 80 % improvement in periapical healing following endodontic retreatment and this was also statistically significant (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: There was a significant improvement in outcome after endodontic retreatment on the postgraduate endodontic clinic. The success rate of endodontic retreatment was over 70 % which is in line with the endodontic literature. Radiographic follow up confirmed some 81 % improvement in healing rate following endodontic retreatment.