Radiographic evaluation of root canal treatment technical quality in a Brazilian population

Abstract

This investigation aims to assess the prevalence of detectable apical periodontitis in periapical radiographs and the relationship between disease and quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students. A random sample of 131 records of patients who had received root canal treatment (RCT) at the Araçatuba School of Dentistry - UNESP was investigated. Anamnesis, clinical examination to attempt to the pain symptom, presence and quality of the restoration, periodontal pocket, dental mobility and occlusal trauma radiographies were evaluated. The percentage of success obtained with the treatment performed by under graduate students was 87,7%. When the treatment was adequate (43 cases) the percentage of success was 90,69% (39 cases), while for the inadequate treatments (14 cases) the percentage of success was 78,57% with no statistically significant difference (p>0.05). It was not observed statistically significant difference in the success rate related to the gender (p>0.05). The pulp condition also did not interfered on the success rate (p>0.05). It was concluded that the endodontic treatment was satisfactory and achieved a suitable success rate around 90% of the cases.