Endodontic therapy using magnification devices: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate if the use of magnification devices in endodontics is associated with the improvement of clinical and radiographic outcomes.


METHODS
The treatment success as determined by clinical and radiographic evaluation after 1-year follow-up was the main outcome. The main search terms used alone or in combination were: endodontic treatment, endodontic therapy, endodontic surgery, apicoectomy, periapical surgery, microscope, endoscope, loupes, magnification devices.


METHODS
The authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Oral Health Specialized Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles published up to September 2009 plus hand-searching of relevant journals and reference list of pertinent reviews and included studies.


METHODS
Prospective clinical trials comparing endodontic therapy performed with or without using magnification devices, as well as trials comparing two or more magnification devices for endodontic therapy were considered.


CONCLUSIONS
Three prospective studies were included, all dealing with endodontic surgery. No significant difference in outcomes was found among patients treated using magnifying loupes, surgical microscope or endoscope. Similarly, no difference was found with or without using the endoscope. No comparative study on magnification devices was found regarding orthograde endodontic treatment. The type of magnification device per se can only minimally affect the treatment outcome. Well-designed randomized trials should be performed to determine the true difference in treatment outcomes when using a magnification device in both orthograde and surgical endodontic treatment, if any exist.
Del Fabbro
Massimo
M
Department of Health Technologies, IRCCS Istituto Ortopedico Galeazzi, University of Milan, Via R. Galeazzi 4, 20161 Milan, Italy. massimo.delfabbro@unimi.it
Taschieri
Silvio
S
D001047:Apicoectomy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019723:Endoscopes; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007909:Lenses; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome