Abstract
Objective: To examine the periapical status, technical standard and frequency of root canal treatment in an adult population in Scotland.
Design: Examination of full-mouth periapical radiographs from 340 consecutive adult patients (8420 teeth) attending Glasgow and Dundee Dental Hospitals for clinical examination.
Methods: Position and quality of the root fillings were assessed together with signs of periradicular radiolucencies. The influence of the type of coronal restoration was also assessed.
Main Outcome Measures: Pathologies associated with impacted third molars and outcomes following surgical removal of third molars.
Results: 54% of the patient sample had root filled teeth. 5.6% of the teeth examined radiographically had root fillings, and of these, 58.1% had radiographic signs of periapical disease. 41% of the patients had at least one non-root canal treated tooth with periapical disease. 77% of teeth with post-retained crowns had evidence of periapical pathology.
Conclusions: Root fillings judged to be adequate radiographically had a reduced incidence of radiolucencies. Teeth obturated beyond the apex had more radiolucencies than those obturated flush with or within 2 mm of the radiographic apex. A high proportion of post-retained crowns were associated with periapical pathology. There is a substantial future need both for root canal treatment and for standardised treatment methods
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saunders, W., Saunders, E., Sadiq, J. et al. Technical standard of root canal treatment in an adult Scottish sub-population. Br Dent J 182, 382–386 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4809394
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.4809394
This article is cited by
-
The epidemiology of endodontic complexity in general dental practice: a prevalence study
British Dental Journal (2022)
-
Apical periodontitis and the technical quality of root canal treatment in an adult sub-population in London
British Dental Journal (2014)
-
A survey of adoption of endodontic nickel-titanium rotary instrumentation part 1: general dental practitioners in Wales
British Dental Journal (2013)
-
Technical quality of root canal fillings done in a Nigerian general dental clinic
BMC Oral Health (2012)
-
Prevalence of apical periodontitis and endodontic treatment in a Kosovar adult population
BMC Oral Health (2011)