title: Cross-sectional evaluation of the periapical status as related to quality of root canal fillings and coronal restorations in a rural adult male population of Turkey.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the prevalence of periapical lesions in root canal-treated teeth in a rural, male adult, Turkish population and to investigate the influence of the quality of root canal fillings on prevalence of periapical lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample for this cross-sectional study consisted of 552 adult male patients, 18-32 years of age, presenting consecutively as new patients seeking routine dental care at the Dental Sciences of Gulhane Military Medicine, Ankara. The radiographs of the 1014 root canal-treated teeth were evaluated. The teeth were grouped according to the radiographic quality of the root canal filling and the coronal restoration. The criteria used for the examination were slightly modified from those described by De Moor. Periapical status was assessed by the Periapical Index scores (PAI) proposed by Orstavik.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall success rate of root canal treatment was 32.1%. The success rates of adequately root canal treatment were significantly higher than inadequately root canal treatment, regardless of the quality or presence of the coronal restoration (P < .001). In addition, the success rate of inadequate root canal treatment was also significantly affected by the quality of coronal restorations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results revealed a high prevalence of periapical lesions in root canal treatment, which is comparable to that reported in other methodologically compatible studies from diverse geographical locations. In addition, the results from the present study confirm the findings of other studies that found the quality of the root canal treatment to be a key factor for prognosis with or without adequate coronal restoration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral, Teeth and Jaw Radiology, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gündüz
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Avsever
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Orhan
authors.forename: Kadriye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Demirkaya
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011859:Radiography; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012424:Rural Population; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult