title: Association between intra-radicular posts and periapical lesions in endodontically treated teeth.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A significant number of endodontically treated teeth restored with posts have associated periapical lesions, and several authors have discussed the probable causes of the development of these. Attention has been focused on restorative procedures performed after endodontic treatment and their association with the prognosis of endodontic therapy because a number of root-filled teeth will require post- and core-retained restorations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate, by examination of periapical radiographs, whether the placement of intra-radicular posts in endodontically treated teeth may act as a risk factor for development of periapical lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study analyzed periapical radiographs of 72 endodontically treated teeth with coronal restorations. All radiographs were obtained from a single private practice. Specimens were assigned to 2 groups: Group 1 (control) was composed of teeth without periapical lesions and Group 2 (case) was composed of teeth with periapical lesions. The number of teeth with and without posts in each group was recorded. Three calibrated examiners analyzed the radiographs visually under X4 magnification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Group 1, 28 (65.1%) out of 43 teeth were restored with posts. In Group 2, 24 (82.8%) out of 29 teeth had intra-radicular posts. The interpretation of chi-square test showed that these percentages were not significantly different (x(2)=2.687; p=0.101). Odds ratio was 2.571 (0.815-8.118), which indicates that there was no statistically significant association between periapical lesions and posts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intra-radicular posts placed in endodontically treated teeth were not a significant risk factor for development of periapical lesions in the practice where the cohort of patients was treated.
authors.affiliation: Course on Dental Prosthodontics, Osseointegrated Implant-Retained Prostheses and Esthetic, Brazilian Dental Association - ES, Vitória, ES, Brazil. cintiagcr@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Cíntia Gonçalves Carvalho
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Rosalem
authors.forename: Claudia Machado de Almeida
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: Selva Maria Gonçalves
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Guerra