Prevalence of apical periodontitis of root canal-treated teeth and retrospective evaluation of symptom-related prognostic factors in an urban South Korean population.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of apical periodontitis among root canal-treated teeth in an urban South Korean population and evaluate prognostic factors for periapical radiolucency and its symptoms.


METHODS
The periapical status of 896 root canal-treated teeth was evaluated by using digital panoramic radiography. Five prognostic factors were analyzed: length and density of the root filling, presence of crown restoration, probability of unilateral bite, and presence of missing canals.


RESULTS
The prevalence of apical periodontitis among root canal-treated teeth in the study population was 22.8%, and 29.3% of these teeth had received dental treatment for pain relief. Evaluation of the prognostic factors indicated that inadequacy of endodontic treatment was more predictive of apical periodontitis than the absence of a crown restoration.


CONCLUSIONS
Inadequate root filling length appeared to be the most important prognostic factor related to apical periodontitis and its acute symptoms among root canal-treated teeth.
Department of Dentistry, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. seonah23@naver.com
Seonah
S
Kim
D001732:Bite Force; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000453:epidemiology; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019227:Tooth Apex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials