title: The periapical space--a dynamic interface.
abstract: The ultimate aim of endodontic treatment is to encourage the healing of apical periodontitis, or to prevent it from occurring if it was not present prior to treatment. Apical periodontitis is a general term used to describe an inflammatory response to irritation caused by the contents of a root canal system and it has several distinct forms. The most common is a granuloma but this can develop into other disease entities such as an abscess, a periapical pocket cyst or a true cyst, all of which present as radiolucencies. However, periapical radiolucencies may also be caused by extra-radicular infections, foreign body reactions and periapical scars, or they may be due to other tumours and cysts that have not originated from pulp disease. Practitioners must recognize and understand the different pathological entities and the dynamic interactions that occur in the periapical tissues in order to correctly diagnose and treat these conditions.
authors.affiliation: School of Dental Science, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Abbott
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000209:etiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000209:etiology; D003788:Dental Pulp Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D010482:Periapical Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D010484:Periapical Granuloma / Q000209:etiology; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000209:etiology; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000502:physiology*; D011842:Radicular Cyst / Q000209:etiology; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D014945:Wound Healing