title: Tactile working length determination for root canal therapy in underserved settings.
abstract: METHODS
  Multicentre randomised controlled clinical trial in a rural underserved African setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  The technical and electrical infrastructure still remains unstable in Gambia. Therefore, block randomisation was chosen. Patients included in 2010 were treated according to the original BRT method with tactile working length determination, whereas patients included in 2011 were treated with radiographic working length control. During the latter study period and the 24-month evaluation, a generator was provided to ensure sufficient power supply to run a radiographic unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary end point was the apical extension score of the radiographic quality parameter of root canal fillings. The secondary radiographic end point was the periapical index, and the secondary clinical end point was tooth tender to percussion. The safety end point was tooth loss as a consequence of endodontic failure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BRT with tactile working length determination compared with standard radiographic working length control did not significantly differ in terms of radiographic and clinical outcomes after 24 months. The apical extension of the root canal fillings and the periapical anatomic structures showed no significant differences according to radiographic analyses (P = 0.5). Corresponding results were found in clinical aspects of tooth tender to percussion (P = 0.6) and tooth loss (P = 0.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Within the limits of this randomised controlled trial it was shown that tactile working length determination in BRT resulted in comparable treatment outcomes in radiographic and clinical aspects compared with standard endodontic treatment with radiographic working length determination. Tactile working length determination turned out to be an accurate method in BRT.
authors: NYU College of Dentistry, New York, USA.
authors: Abdullah J
authors: AJ
authors: Dohaithem
authors: NYU College of Dentistry, New York, USA.
authors: Eman O
authors: EO
authors: Bakarman
authors: NYU College of Dentistry, New York, USA.
authors: Analia
authors: A
authors: Veitz-Keenan
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods*