title: A prospective study of the prevalence of periapical pathology in severely worn teeth.
abstract: The aim of this article was to carry out a prospective audit on a convenience sample of all new patients referred to the toothwear clinic at Cardiff University Dental Hospital to establish the prevalence of undiagnosed periapical pathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low prevalence value for undiagnosed periapical pathology in patients with advanced toothwear suggests that, for many patients, toothwear is a slow process which allows the defence mechanisms of the pulp to counteract the effects of wear. It also questions the necessity of taking routine radiographs of teeth with wear into dentine, in the absence of clinical symptoms. This would reduce the total radiation dose delivered to the patient and preserve valuable healthcare resources.
authors.affiliation: Learning Teaching and Scholarship Group, Cardiff University Dental Hospital and School, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XY, UK.
authors.forename: Jeremy S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Naik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057085:Tooth Wear / Q000150:complications*