Evaluation the success of retreated root canals with a follow-up to 2 years

Aim: To determine the clinical and radiographic success rate of the retreatments and 2 years follow-up performed in Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Endodontics. Material and methods: 110 patients older than 18 years old were evaluated during the study and, of 110 teeth were treated between 2013-2015 by the instructors, recalls for 24 months after retreatment were completed. Patient data was gathered from clinical file of the department and they were informed. Dental data about time of retreatment was provided from the dijital radiograph recording system of faculty (PACS). At recalls, after reporting clinical signs as spontanoues pain, tenderness to percussion and sinus tract and periapical healing was evaluated using PAI from the dijital periapical radiograph. Asymptomatic teeth were classified as either healed if the last score was lower than the first score and PAI≤2, healing was concluded if no change was evident in bone density, and failure was scored if the last score was higher than the first and PAI≥3. Patient age, gender, type of teeth, type and the condition of coronal restoration, presence of periapical lesion, observation period and root canal filling lenght were evaluated. Analyses utilized Chi-Square and Mann Whitney U tests (p<0,05). Results: After clinical and radiographic evaluation, no statistically significant differences were detected based on age, gender, type of teeth, location on the jaw, type of coronal restoration, presence of peripical lesion, observation period and root canal filling length. Condition of coronal restoration (p=0,001) was found have significant influence on success of root canal fillings. Conclusion: Radiographic evaluation is not sufficient to evaluate the success of root canal treatment, the clinical assessment is also necessary. Poor coronal restoration increased the risk of apical periodontitis even though when root canal filling was adequate. Keywords: Retreatment, Treatment outcome, Success, Failure