Periodontal-endodontic interdisciplinary treatment--a case report

Periodontal-endodontic lesions pose a difficult diagnostic and therapeutic challenge to the dental practitioner. A careful diagnostic examination consisting of a thorough patient and dental history, comprehensive clinical examination, and use of appropriate dental radiographs is necessary to arrive at a proper diagnosis of the periodontal-endodontic lesion. Despite these measures, it is not always possible to make an accurate diagnosis, which is imperative to provide the proper therapy in the correct treatment sequence. In some instances, endodontic or periodontal therapy alone may suffice; however, in other instances, a combination of endodontic and periodontal therapy may be required to successfully treat the case. In this article, classifications of periodontal-endodontic lesions are discussed, including the appropriate treatment and correct treatment sequence for each classification. Prognosis of periodontal-endodontic lesions depends on the diagnosis, treatment, and chronicity of the lesion, as well as the duration of periodontal involvement. A clinical case is presented in which a periodontal endodontic lesion has been successfully treated with a combination of conventional endodontic therapy and regenerative periodontal surgery.