Technical standard of root canal treatment in an adult Scottish sub-population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the periapical status, technical standard and frequency of root canal treatment in an adult population in Scotland.


METHODS
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.


METHODS
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.
Saunders
W P
WP
University of Glasgow Dental School, United Kingdom.
Saunders
E M
EM
Sadiq
J
J
Cruickshank
E
E
D000328:Adult; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000601:surgery; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000592:standards; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000592:standards; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019228:Tooth Crown; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials