IADR Abstract Archives
Importance of Clinical Follow Up in Endodontic Outcome
Objectives: To evaluate the endodontic outcome of root canal treated teeth performed by undergraduates and their association with technical quality of root canal therapy (RCT).
Methods: 90 teeth samples were retrieved from 350 teeth of previous clinical audits. Follow-up was made 3 to 6 years after treatment for patients who had undergone RCT by undergraduates in International Medical University. Of 272 patients who were contacted, 59 (21.7%) patients presented to clinic. Clinical and radiographic examinations were done following the European endodontic guidelines and criteria. Each endodontic treatment was considered successful when both clinical and radiographic outcomes were satisfactory. The frequency distributions of endodontic outcomes were calculated. Association between technical quality of RCT and endodontic outcome was analysed using chi-square test. The reasons of absence for follow-up were obtained from patients and frequency distributions were calculated.
Results: Of 90 teeth, clinical success, radiographic success, endodontic success, and acceptable technical quality of RCT were observed in 72.2%, 85.6%, 60.7%, and 51.1%. In clinical outcomes, absence of tenderness to percussion or palpation, soft tissue swelling, sinus tract, probing defect, increased tooth mobility and poor coronal seal were observed in 90%, 97.8%, 97.8%, 84.4%, 84.4%, and 94.4%. In radiographic outcomes, absence of static or expanding periapical lesions and root fracture or resorption were observed in 86.7% and 98.9%. There was no statistically significant difference between technical quality of RCT and endodontic outcome (P=0.101). The main reasons of absence for follow-up were the contacts were unreachable (43.7%) followed by the reason of patients expressed satisfaction without any symptoms and did not feel the need for follow up (30.5%).
Conclusions: There was no association observed in between technical quality of RCT and endodontic outcome however, along with technical quality other factors may influence the endodontic outcome. Importance of follow-up needs to be emphasized to improve the long-term success of RCT.
Methods: 90 teeth samples were retrieved from 350 teeth of previous clinical audits. Follow-up was made 3 to 6 years after treatment for patients who had undergone RCT by undergraduates in International Medical University. Of 272 patients who were contacted, 59 (21.7%) patients presented to clinic. Clinical and radiographic examinations were done following the European endodontic guidelines and criteria. Each endodontic treatment was considered successful when both clinical and radiographic outcomes were satisfactory. The frequency distributions of endodontic outcomes were calculated. Association between technical quality of RCT and endodontic outcome was analysed using chi-square test. The reasons of absence for follow-up were obtained from patients and frequency distributions were calculated.
Results: Of 90 teeth, clinical success, radiographic success, endodontic success, and acceptable technical quality of RCT were observed in 72.2%, 85.6%, 60.7%, and 51.1%. In clinical outcomes, absence of tenderness to percussion or palpation, soft tissue swelling, sinus tract, probing defect, increased tooth mobility and poor coronal seal were observed in 90%, 97.8%, 97.8%, 84.4%, 84.4%, and 94.4%. In radiographic outcomes, absence of static or expanding periapical lesions and root fracture or resorption were observed in 86.7% and 98.9%. There was no statistically significant difference between technical quality of RCT and endodontic outcome (P=0.101). The main reasons of absence for follow-up were the contacts were unreachable (43.7%) followed by the reason of patients expressed satisfaction without any symptoms and did not feel the need for follow up (30.5%).
Conclusions: There was no association observed in between technical quality of RCT and endodontic outcome however, along with technical quality other factors may influence the endodontic outcome. Importance of follow-up needs to be emphasized to improve the long-term success of RCT.