title: Prevalence of apical periodontitis relative to endodontic treatment in an adult Dutch population: a repeated cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to compare an Amsterdam subpopulation's current prevalence of root canal fillings and associated periapical radiolucencies with a similar patient sample from 1988.
  
  
  METHODS
  An Amsterdam subpopulation was evaluated for missing teeth, restorations, quality of endodontic treatment, and periapical radiolucency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 178 radiographs were evaluated and 4594 teeth were examined. Of these, 324 (7%) exhibited widening of the apical periodontal ligament or periapical radiolucency and 224 (4.8%) had been endodontically treated. A total of 118 teeth (2.5%) had radiographic signs of apical periodontitis. Of these lesions, 54 (45.7%) were linked to endodontically treated teeth (24.1% of endodontically treated teeth). Inadequate root canal fillings were frequent (55.8%). Apical radiolucency was significantly higher in these teeth than in adequately root-filled teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate that the periapical status in an Amsterdam subpopulation has not improved over almost 2 decades.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology, Endodontology, Pedodontology, Academic Center Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), Amsterdam, the Netherlands. L.Peters@acta.nl
authors.forename: Linda B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Jerome A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lindeboom
authors.forename: Marilka E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Elst
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Wesselink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019232:Dental Restoration Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult