Technical standard of root canal treatment in an adult Scottish sub-population

Abstract

Objective: To examine the periapical status, technical standard and frequency of root canal treatment in an adult population in Scotland.

Design: Examination of full-mouth periapical radiographs from 340 consecutive adult patients (8420 teeth) attending Glasgow and Dundee Dental Hospitals for clinical examination.

Methods: Position and quality of the root fillings were assessed together with signs of periradicular radiolucencies. The influence of the type of coronal restoration was also assessed.

Main outcome measures: Pathologies associated with impacted third molars and outcomes following surgical removal of third molars.

Results: 54% of the patient sample had root filled teeth. 5.6% of the teeth examined radiographically had root fillings, and of these, 58.1% had radiographic signs of periapical disease. 41% of the patients had at least one non-root canal treated tooth with periapical disease. 77% of teeth with post-retained crowns had evidence of periapical pathology.

Conclusions: Root fillings judged to be adequate radiographically had a reduced incidence of radiolucencies. Teeth obturated beyond the apex had more radiolucencies than those obturated flush with or within 2 mm of the radiographic apex. A high proportion of post-retained crowns were associated with periapical pathology. There is a substantial future need both for root canal treatment and for standardised treatment methods.