Microscope versus endoscope in root-end management: a randomized controlled study

The purpose of this prospective, randomized, clinical study was to monitor the outcome of periradicular surgery, in which either a surgical microscope or an endoscope was used as a magnification device. A total of 113 teeth in 70 patients were included in the study, according to specific selection criteria. The choice of endoscope or surgical microscope was made using a randomized table. One hundred cases were followed for at least 2 years. Of these, 59 root-end management procedures were performed using a microscope and 41 using an endoscope. At the 2-year follow-up they were classified into three groups (success, uncertain healing and failure) according to radiographic and clinical criteria. After a 2-year follow-up, 91 teeth (91%) healed successfully. In the group using an endoscope 90% of successful healing was achieved, while 92% of success was recorded for the group using a microscope. No statistically significant difference was found in the treatment results relating to the type of magnification device. The type of magnification device used did not seem to affect the outcome of endodontic surgery.     

Magnifying loupes versus surgical microscope in endodontic surgery: A four‐year retrospective study

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the 4‐year outcome of endodontic microsurgery using two different magnification devices. One‐hundred and two teeth in 65 patients were included according to specific selection criteria. Endodontic surgery was performed under surgical microscope as magnification device in 63 teeth in 36 patients, while 39 teeth in 29 patients were treated under magnifying loupes. Thirteen patients did not attend the 4‐year follow up. The overall success rate on a patient basis was 91.7% at the 1‐year and 90.5% at the 4‐year follow up for the group using loupes, while for the group using microscope it was 91.4% at the 1‐year and 93.3% at the 4‐year follow up. The relative risk was 2.07 (95% confidence interval: 0.31, 13.95) in favour of the group in which microscope was used. No statistically significant difference was found in the treatment outcomes relating to the type of magnification device.     

显微根尖手术治疗39例慢性根尖周炎病例的临床疗效

目的评价显微根尖手术治疗39例慢性根尖周炎病例的临床疗效。方法对39例慢性根尖周炎病例进行显微根尖手术治疗．包括在牙科手术显微镜下借助显微外科器械对患牙进行根尖刮治、根尖切除、根尖倒预备和MTA倒充填。术后每3个月复诊．通过临床和X线片检查评价术后1年的疗效，分为愈合、好转和无效病例。结果39例慢性根尖周炎病例1年后随访的治疗成功率为94．9％，其中治愈病例为82．1％．好转病例为12．8％。结论显微根尖手术对治疗慢性根尖周炎病损具有良好疗效。     

Comparison of clinical outcome of periapical surgery in endodontic and oral surgery units of a teaching dental hospital: a retrospective study

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this retrospective study were (1) to compare the outcome of periapical surgery performed in endodontic and in oral surgery units of a teaching dental hospital and (2) to evaluate the influence of factors affecting outcome. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 176 teeth (endodontic unit, 83; oral surgery unit, 93) surgically treated more than 4 years previously were examined clinically and radiographically by means of strict criteria. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: The rate of complete healing for patients treated in the endodontic unit (37.4%) was significantly (P = .009) higher than that for patients treated in the oral surgery unit (19.4%). The technical quality of surgery (P < .001), placement of root-end filling (P = .039), absence of a preoperative periapical lesion (P = .042), absence of a post (P = .047), and presence of an adequate coronal restoration (P = .056, odds ratio = 3.71) had significant effects on treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: The technical quality of periapical surgery, the presence of a periapical lesion, and adequate apical and coronal seal are important prognostic determinants of successful periapical surgery.     

Periapical endodontic surgery: a 3-year follow-up study

AIM: To monitor the outcome of periradicular surgery in a group of teeth treated with microsurgical technology and ultrasonic root-end preparation. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and twenty-eight teeth with failed conventional root canal treatment were included. The surgical procedure was completed using ultrasonic retrotips and a zinc oxide-EBA (Super Seal, Ogna Pharmaceuticals. Milan, Italy)-reinforced material was used to seal the root end cavities. Lesions were examined radiologically at 1. 3. 6. 12, 24 and 36-month intervals. Radiographs were independently analysed according to a previously published classification. RESULTS: Eight teeth were extracted due to fracture or perforations undetected radiologically: these cases were excluded from the study. Of the 120 teeth examined. the overall success rate was 92.5%; 94 healed with complete bone filling of the surgical cavity, 17 were considered to have healed by apical scar formation, four demonstrated uncertain healing and five were considered failures. Eighty of 120 teeth examined had successfully healed from a radiological point of view within 12 months. No differences in outcome occurred between anterior, premolar and molar teeth. Although all failures occurred in teeth with posts, no statistically significant difference was noted (Mann-Whitney U-test, P = 0.37). CONCLUSION: Modern surgical endodontic procedures associated and ERA (Super Seal, Ogna Pharmaceuticals, Milan, Italy) root end fillings were successful over 3 years in 92.5% of cases.     

Magnification devices for endodontic therapy

Background: After the introduction of microsurgical principles in endodontics, involving new techniques for root canal treatment, there has been a continuous search for enhancing the visualization of the surgical field. It would be interesting to know if the technical advantages for the operator brought in by magnification devices like surgical microscope, endoscope and magnifying loupes, are also associated with advantages for the patient, in terms of improvement of clinical and radiographic outcomes. Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate and compare the effects of endodontic treatment performed with the aid of magnification devices versus endodontic treatment without magnification devices. We also aimed at comparing among them the different magnification devices used in endodontics (microscope, endoscope, magnifying loupes). Search strategy: The Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched with appropriate search strategies. Handsearching included nine dental journals. The bibliographies of relevant clinical trials and relevant articles were checked for identifying studies outside the handsearched journals. Seven manufacturers of instruments in the field of endodontics and/or endodontic surgery, as well as the authors of the identified randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were contacted in order to identify unpublished or ongoing RCTs. There were no language restrictions. The last electronic search was conducted on 2nd April 2009, and the last handsearching was undertaken on 31st January 2009. Selection criteria: All randomized and quasi‐randomized trials comparing endodontic therapy performed with or without using one or more types of magnification device, as well as randomized and quasi‐randomized trials comparing two or more magnification devices used as an adjunct to endodontic therapy were considered. Data collection and analysis: Screening of studies and data extraction were conducted independently and in duplicate. The Cochrane Collaboration statistical guidelines were to be followed for data synthesis. Main results: No trial could be included in the present review. All of the prospective trials that were identified, all dealing with endodontic surgery, had to be excluded for various reasons. Only one RCT was identified comparing three magnificators (magnifying loupes, surgical microscope, endoscope) in endodontic surgery. No RCT was found that compared the outcome of endodontic therapy using or without using a given magnification device. Authors’ conclusions: No objective conclusion can be drawn from the results of this review as no article was identified in the current literature that satisfied the criteria for inclusion. It is unknown if and how the type of magnification device affects the treatment outcome, considering the high number of factors that may have a significant impact on the success of endodontic surgical procedure. This should be investigated by further long‐term RCTs with large sample size. Technical advantages of magnificators have been widely reported in low evidence level studies, but they should be systematically addressed to know if there can be the clinical indication for using a given magnification device for specific clinical situations, such as for molar teeth, or if they can all be used interchangeably. Well‐designed RCTs should also be performed to determine the true difference in terms of treatment success rates between using or not using a magnification device in both conventional and surgical endodontic treatment, if any exist. Plain language summary: Magnification devices for endodontic therapy. There are no data to draw a sound conclusion on the effect of adopting either a microscope, an endoscope, or magnifying loupes for better visualization in endodontic therapy, in terms of clinical outcomes. Though the use of magnification devices has often been associated with technical advantages for the operator and with an improved management of the root canal due to a better visualization of the operative field, it still has to be demonstrated that their use may lead to an improved treatment success rate. More long‐term well‐designed randomized trials with a large sample size are urgently needed to address the issues of the present review.     

Retrospective evaluation of surgical endodontic treatment: traditional versus modern technique

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the outcome of surgical endodontic treatment preformed using the traditional versus modern techniques. There were 110 patients who were treated by surgical endodontic treatment between 2000 and 2002 and evaluated from their dental charts. The surgical endodontic treatment was preformed using a traditional or modern technique. The traditional technique included root-end resection with a 45 degrees bevel angle, and retrograde preparation using a carbide round bur. The modern technique included root-end resection with minimal or no bevel, and retrograde preparation using ultrasonic retro-tips with the aid of a dental operating microscope. The retrograde filling material for both techniques was intermediate restorative material. There were 71 patients with 88 treated teeth that were compatible with the inclusion criteria. Complete healing rate for the teeth treated with the modern technique (91.1%) was significantly higher than that for teeth treated using the traditional technique (44.2%) (p < 0.0001). In the traditional technique a significant (p = 0.032) negative influence of the tooth type was found. Modern surgical endodontic treatment using operative microscope and ultrasonic tips significantly improves the outcome of the therapy compared to the traditional technique.     

A prospective clinical study of periradicular surgery using mineral trioxide aggregate as a root-end filling

A prospective outcome study of periradicular surgery using microsurgical techniques and root-end filling with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) was performed. Nonhealing endodontically treated teeth (n = 321) were included in the study. Surgery was completed under local anesthesia using a standardized clinical protocol. Patients were recalled periodically and examined for signs and symptoms of failure. Thirty-nine teeth were lost from recall. Of the 276 teeth examined, 163 showed complete healing radiographically with no other signs and symptoms; 82 teeth had no symptoms but incomplete or uncertain healing, and 31 teeth showed nonhealing (three had persistent pain despite evidence of complete radiologic healing and eight teeth did not heal for reasons unrelated to the surgical treatment). The overall success rate was 88.8%, including all teeth with no clinical symptoms. In this study, the use of MTA as a root-end filling, following microsurgical techniques, showed a high success rate.     

Outcomes of endodontic micro-resurgery: a prospective clinical study

Introduction

This study examined the outcomes of endodontic resurgery by using current microsurgery techniques on failed teeth with previous endodontic surgery. Another goal was to determine any significant outcome predictors of endodontic surgery by determining the causes of failure in the first endodontic surgery.

Methods

The data were collected from patients in the Department of Conservative Dentistry at the Dental College, Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea between March 2001 and May 2009. All 54 teeth that required surgical retreatment were included in this study. All surgical procedures were performed by using an operating microscope and biocompatible root-end filling materials such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or Super EBA. The patients were recalled every 6 months for 2 years and every year thereafter to assess the clinical and radiographic signs of healing.

Results

The recall rate was 77.8% (42 of 54 patients). Of the 42 cases recalled, 39 cases were included in the success category, giving an overall success rate of 92.9%. The most common possible causes of failure were no root-end filling and incorrect root-end preparation.

Conclusions

The use of microsurgical techniques and biocompatible materials such as MTA and Super-EBA resulted in a high clinical success rate, even in endodontic resurgery.     

Prognosis in periradicular surgery: a clinical prospective study

AIM: The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the prognosis of periradicular surgery using well-defined case selection and a rigorous surgical protocol. METHODOLOGY: Teeth to be treated surgically demonstrated a periradicular lesion of strictly endodontic origin with or without clinical signs and symptoms of inflammation. A total of 114 teeth were treated. Following the reflection of a full mucoperiosteal tissue flap, residual soft tissues were curetted, root ends were resected with a fine high-speed diamond bur, root-end cavities were prepared ultrasonically with diamond tips, and IRM root-end fillings were placed. Cases were followed clinically and radiographically for a period ranging from 1 to 4 years. RESULTS: The results of this study showed 91.2% success out of a total of 102 teeth available for follow-up, based on accepted parameters of evaluation. Cases were considered successful if there were no clinical signs or symptoms present and there was radiographic evidence of complete or incomplete healing (scar tissue). Factors related to case selection, parameters of healing and surgical technique are discussed in relation to the success rate identified in this prospective study. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to a strict endodontic surgical protocol and the use of contemporary techniques and materials will result in a predictably successful outcome in a wide range of teeth.     

Root-end microsurgery using a premixed tricalcium silicate putty as root-end filling material: a prospective study

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to assess the clinical and radiographic outcome of root-end microsurgery using a premixed fast-set calcium silicate putty as root-end filling material in human teeth.

Materials and methods

This study included 50 teeth in 35 patients, whose ages ranged from 16 to 69 years. After clinical and radiographic examination, informed consent was obtained and one resident performed all surgical procedures using an endodontic microsurgical approach. A tricalcium silicate–based putty (TotalFil FS putty, FKG Dentair, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland) was used as a root-end filling material. Patients were recalled and treated teeth were examined clinically and radiographically at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year postoperatively. The outcome was determined based on clinical and radiographic results. Radiographic healing was classified into 4 categories: complete, incomplete, uncertain, and unsatisfactory. Analysis of predictors was performed using the Pearson chi-square or Fisher’s exact test.

Results

At the time of surgery, 3 teeth were diagnosed with cracks and were excluded from the study. The recall rates were 85% at 3 months, 100% at 6 months, and 95% at 1 year. One tooth failed at 3 months, 3 failed at 1 year, with a success rate of 93%. None of the predictors investigated had a significant influence on the outcome of microsurgery.

Conclusions

Premixed fast-set tricalcium silicate putty is a suitable root-end filling material for use in endodontic microsurgery.

Clinical relevance

Tricalcium silicate-based cements have shown promising biological properties as a root-end-filling material. Premixed and fast-set formulations achieved high success rates in clinical studies.

Trial registration

Clinicaltrials.gov registration number NCT03733938.

     

A prospective clinical study of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and IRM when used as root-end filling materials in endodontic surgery

AIM: To assess the success rate of the root-end filling material, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (MTA). METHODOLOGY: Referred adult patients were recruited using strict entry criteria and randomly allocated to receive MTA or IRM. A standardized surgical technique was employed: the root end was resected perpendicularly and a root-end cavity was prepared ultrasonically and filled. A radiograph taken immediately after surgery was compared with those taken at 12 and 24 months. Customised film holders and the paralleling technique were used; radiographs were assessed by two trained observers using agreed criteria. The results from 122 patients (58 in IRM group, 64 in MTA group) after 12 months and 108 patients (47 in IRM group, 61 in MTA group) for the 24-month review period were analysed using the chi2 test. RESULTS: The highest number of teeth with complete healing at both times was observed when MTA was used. When the numbers of teeth with complete and incomplete (scar) healing, and those with uncertain and unsatisfactory healing were combined, the success rate for MTA was higher (84% after 12 months, 92% after 24 months) compared with IRM (76% after 12 months, 87% after 24 months). However, statistical analysis showed no significant difference in success between materials (P > 0.05) at both 12 and 24 months. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the use of MTA as a root-end filling material resulted in a high success rate that was not significantly better than that obtained using IRM.     

根尖倒充填术与根尖刮治术的临床疗效观察

目的 运用根尖倒充填术治疗常规根管治疗无法治愈的病例,并与根尖刮治术对比,观察临床疗效并评价其临床应用价值.方法选取通过常规根管治疗术无法处理或疗效不佳的根尖周炎患牙62颗,将其分为刮治组和倒充填组两组,每组31颗,在显微镜下分别进行根尖刮治术和根尖倒充填术,根据术后X线片判断即刻倒充填效果,术后1年、2年复查,根据患者感受、临床检查和X线片结果进行疗效评价.结果共有49颗患牙进行了疗效观察.刮治组1年及2年成功率分别为52%(12/23)、45%(9/20);倒充填组1年及2年成功率分别为85%(22/26)、88%(22/25).倒充填组1年和2年成功率均高于刮治组(1年成功率比较x2=6.0,P<0. 05;2年成功率比较x2=9.6,P<0.005).结论对根管治疗术无法处理或疗效不佳的患牙采用根尖倒充填术可获得良好的疗效.     

Molecular Analysis of the Antibacterial Effects of Photodynamic Therapy in Endodontic Surgery: A Case Series

In this case series, bacterial reduction promoted by antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (PDT) used during endodontic surgery was evaluated. Cases were also followed up, and the surgical outcome was reported. The study consisted of 19 teeth with posttreatment apical periodontitis that were consecutively treated by endodontic surgery. After apicoectomy, the root end was treated with PDT using methylene blue as the photosensitizer. Bacteriologic samples were taken from both the cut root surface and the root-end cavity before and after PDT. Samples were analyzed for the total bacterial and Streptococcus group counts using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. EndoSequence BC-RRM Putty (Brasseler, Savannah, GA) was used as the root-end filling. Patients were followed up, and the surgical outcome was evaluated. The reduction in bacterial counts after the PDT approach was analyzed using the nonparametric Wilcoxon signed rank test. PDT significantly reduced the total bacterial and streptococcal counts in both root-end cavities and resected root surfaces (P < .05). The success rate for 15 teeth that were available for recall after 12 to 21 months was 93% under a loose evaluation criterion and 73% under a rigid one. Used during endodontic surgery, PDT significantly enhanced disinfection of the cut surface area and root-end cavity. Cases treated with PDT showed a high healing rate.     

Periradicular surgery of molars: a prospective clinical study with a one-year follow-up

AIM: The purpose of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the outcome of periradicular surgery of molars after one year. METHODOLOGY: The material consisted of 25 molars with 39 roots demonstrating periradicular lesions of endodontic origin. Surgical treatment included root-end resection, root-end preparation with sonic microtips, and root-end filling with Super-EBA cement. At the one-year follow-up examination, healing was evaluated clinically and radiographically. Healing was assigned to three categories: (i) success (ii) improvement, and (iii) failure using well defined criteria. RESULTS: Eighty-eight per cent of the surgically treated molars showed successful healing. In 8%, the healing was rated as improved and only 4% were failures. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of the present study and data of recently published studies show that periradicular surgery may result in a predictable treatment outcome in molars with persistent periradicular lesions.     

Outcome of Surgical Endodontic Treatment Performed by a Modern Technique: A Meta-analysis of Literature

IntroductionNumerous studies dealing with the outcome of surgical endodontic treatment have been published. However, study design, treatment protocols, follow-up periods, and inclusion and exclusion criteria are extremely variable. Thus, variable and confusing results have been reported. The aim of the present study was to assess the outcome of surgical endodontic treatment performed with a modern technique and to evaluate factors influencing the outcome by means of a meta-analysis.MethodsAn exhaustive literature search combined with strict inclusion and exclusion criteria was undertaken to identify prospective case series or randomized clinical trials that deal with surgical endodontic treatment.ResultsA successful outcome in a follow-up of more than 1 year postoperatively was 91.6%. Age, gender, tooth type, root-end filling material, and magnification type had no significant effect on the proportion of success.ConclusionsSurgical endodontic treatment done by using a modern technique is a predictable treatment. Additional large-scale prospective clinical studies are needed to evaluate possible predictors of success and failure.     

Endodontic therapy using magnification devices: A systematic review

Objectives

The purpose of this systematic review was to investigate if the use of magnification devices in endodontics is associated with the improvement of clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Data

The treatment success as determined by clinical and radiographic evaluation after 1-year follow-up was the main outcome. The main search terms used alone or in combination were: endodontic treatment, endodontic therapy, endodontic surgery, apicoectomy, periapical surgery, microscope, endoscope, loupes, magnification devices.

Sources

The authors searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Oral Health Specialized Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for articles published up to September 2009 plus hand-searching of relevant journals and reference list of pertinent reviews and included studies.

Study selection

Prospective clinical trials comparing endodontic therapy performed with or without using magnification devices, as well as trials comparing two or more magnification devices for endodontic therapy were considered.

Conclusions

Three prospective studies were included, all dealing with endodontic surgery. No significant difference in outcomes was found among patients treated using magnifying loupes, surgical microscope or endoscope. Similarly, no difference was found with or without using the endoscope. No comparative study on magnification devices was found regarding orthograde endodontic treatment. The type of magnification device per se can only minimally affect the treatment outcome. Well-designed randomized trials should be performed to determine the true difference in treatment outcomes when using a magnification device in both orthograde and surgical endodontic treatment, if any exist.     

Evaluation of Microsurgery with SuperEBA as Root-end Filling Material for Treating Post-treatment Endodontic Disease: A 2-year Retrospective Study

Introduction

This retrospective study assessed the effects of microsurgical treatment of post-treatment endodontic disease using SuperEBA (Bosworth, Skokie, IL) as the root-end filling material and evaluated the potential prognostic factors in relation to outcome.

Methods

Data were collected from patients diagnosed with post-treatment endodontic disease who then underwent endodontic microsurgery between April 2007 and October 2010. The effect was evaluated 2 years after the operation. Surgical procedures were performed by a single endodontic specialist. After surgery, operation records were recorded including preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors from the clinical and radiographic measures. For statistical analysis of the predisposing factors, the dependent variable was the dichotomous outcome (ie, success vs failure).

Results

Eighty-two patients with 101 treated teeth met the inclusion criteria. The recall rate was 87.2%. Of these microsurgically treated cases, the overall healing rate was 93.1%. At the 0.05 significance level, age, sex, tooth position, size of periapical radiolucency, biopsy result of periapical lesion, and presence of a sinus tract appeared to have no significant effects on the outcome (P > .05).

Conclusions

Microsurgical endodontic treatment using SuperEBA as the root-end filling material is a favorable option for post-treatment endodontic disease.     

Root-end cavity preparation after apicoectomy using a new type of sonic and diamond-surfaced retrotip: a 1-year follow-up study.

PURPOSE: This study evaluated the outcome of periradicular surgery using a new set of retrotips for root-end cavity preparation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three patients who had 50 consecutively treated teeth with periradicular pathology were enrolled in this prospective study. After apicoectomy, root-end cavity preparation was performed, using diamond-surfaced retrotips driven by a sonic handpiece; EBA-cement was used as the root-end filling material. Healing assessment was based on clinical and radiographic criteria. RESULTS: At the 1-year follow-up, 82% of the reexamined surgical cases presented with successful healing. Fourteen percent of the treated teeth were deemed as improved (partial healing), and 4% were classified as failures. CONCLUSION: The new retrotips were found to be ideal for root-end cavity preparation. They simplify the surgical approach to root ends where the working space is limited by restricted access. Root-ends prepared with this new sonoabrasive technique yielded excellent results at the 1-year follow-up examination.     

Prognostic Factors after Endodontic Microsurgery: A Retrospective Study of 111 Cases with 5 to 9 Years of Follow-up

IntroductionA study was performed of the healing rate of teeth subjected to endodontic microsurgery after a minimum follow-up of 5 years with an analysis of the influence of different pre- and postoperative factors on the outcome.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of patients subjected to endodontic microsurgery with the use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) for retrograde filling between January 2011 and December 2015. In patients with multiple treated teeth, only 1 random tooth was selected for the statistical analysis. Clinical and radiographic parameters were used to assess healing. Simple binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the influence of patient age and sex, the type of tooth, prior radiographic lesion size, the presence of a post, the type of restoration, and the apical extent of prior filling of the root canal on the endodontic microsurgery success rate. Two calibrated observers evaluated the periapical radiographs on an independent basis.ResultsA total of 111 patients (63.1% women and 36.9% men) were included in the study. Of the 111 teeth analyzed, 90 were classified as healed (mean healing rate = 81.1%). Patient age and sex, the presence of a post, the type of tooth, the type of restoration, and the apical extent of prior filling of the root canal had no significant impact on the outcome. Large lesions (>5 mm) were associated with a lower healing rate than smaller lesions, although the difference was not significant. Anterior teeth had a significantly higher healing rate (93.8% maxillary and 100% mandibular) than molars (70.8% maxillary and 57.1% mandibular) (P < .05). The differences between the anterior teeth and the molars were statistically significant.ConclusionsThe mean healing rate of teeth subjected to endodontic microsurgery was 81% after 5–9 years of follow-up. The success rate was lower for upper and lower molars than for teeth in the anterior zone, although the sample was small and further studies are needed to establish whether the type of tooth influences the treatment outcome.