Periapical surgery using ultrasonic preparation and thermoplasticized gutta-percha with AH Plus sealer or IRM as retrograde root-end fillings in 160 consecutive teeth: a prospective randomized clinical study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the healing outcome after periapical surgery with an ultrasonic cleaning technique in conjunction with the use of either of 2 different retrograde root-filling materials in teeth with apical periodontitis.

Study design: One hundred sixty teeth in 139 consecutive patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups receiving either IRM or thermoplasticized gutta-percha (GP) with AH Plus sealer as a retrograde root-end seal. The patients were reviewed 12 months after surgery. The results were analyzed with Fisher exact test.

Results: One hundred forty-seven teeth in 131 patients were reviewed. Radiologic evaluation and clinical examination showed an 85% success rate for the IRM group and 90% for GP group. There was no statistical significance between the 2 groups.

Conclusion: Both tested materials, IRM and GP, are suitable as retrograde root-end filling materials in conjunction with ultrasonic root-end preparation according to the results of the healing outcome after 12 months follow-up.