To present a clinical and radiological comparative assessment of two root canal obturation techniques in the situation of obliterations present in the root canals: the Gutta-Percha lateral condensation method versus the CWC technique, five years after the conclusion of the treatment.
Method:
A total of 310 teeth from 171 patients were analysed – and in vivo tests performed. The author personally performed endodontic procedure on these patients. A total of 17 teeth had root canal obliterations (calcifications) covering 1/3 of the apical part. Consent for the study was obtained from the Bioethics Committee of the Jagiellonian University.
A comparison was made between the following: root canal system filled using the cold lateral condensation method and a root canal filled using the thermal continuous wave condensation (CWC) method. The results were also analysed to determine the presence or absence of periapical lesions and also to identify patients undergoing primary treatment and undergoing retreatment.
The groups were randomised according to time criteria.
A statistical analysis was carried out based on a comparison of the initial state with the achieved after five years.
All the statistical analyses were based on: Fisher's exact test, the chi-square test and a logistic regression model.
Result:
The healing process in the case of the two root canal obturation methods CWC and the Gutta-Percha lateral condensation method was affected by such factors as obliteration. 14,4% teeth were classified as healed and teeth 85,7% as diseased (p<0,001).
In the case of both primary procedure 0,8% teeth were healed and 42,9% were diseased (p=0,001) and retreatment 1,2% were healed and 64,7% were diseased (p<0,001), obliterations had a negative impact on the treatment outcome.
Conclusion:
Root canal obliteration leads to poorer treatment results.
A higher percentage of positive treatment for the CWC technique suggests using the thermal technique when obliterations occur.