Factors Associated with Extraction following Root Canal Filling in Adults

Essentially, root fillings are performed to preserve natural teeth. Over time, however, some root-filled teeth will inevitably be extracted. The aim of this historical prospective cohort study in the adult Swedish population was to identify factors associated with extractions within 5 y of registration of a root filling. The cohort consisted of all those whose root fillings had been reported to the tax-funded Swedish Social Insurance Agency (SSIA) in 2009. Demographic data on the individuals registered with a root filling (sex, age, country of birth, disposable income, educational level, and marital status) were received from Statistics Sweden or the SSIA. Dental care setting, tooth type, and any registration of subsequent restorations within 6 mo were received from the SSIA. Multivariable regression analysis was used, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In total, 216,764 individuals had been registered with at least 1 root filling. Individuals (n = 824) without complete data were excluded from the analyses. After 5 y, 9.3% of the root-filled teeth had been registered as extracted. Logistic regression analysis found significant associations for all variables except country of birth, disposable income, and educational level. The highest odds ratios for extractions were associated with the type of restoration: teeth with no registration of any restoration and teeth with a direct restoration combined with a post were 3 times more likely to undergo extraction than teeth restored with an indirect restoration combined with a post and core. Overall, high odds ratios for extractions were associated with any type of composite restoration, including composite fillings and crowns combined with or without any post. In summary, after root filling in the Swedish adult population, several individual- and tooth-specific variables were associated with extraction. The reasons for the extractions remain to be studied further.

Demographic factors in Swedish adults undergoing root filling and subsequent extraction of a maxillary first molar: a comparative study

AIM

To study the demographics of Swedish adults who had received a root filling, followed by extraction during the following 5-6 years in comparison with subjects who had undergone a corresponding root filling with an uneventful outcome.

METHODOLOGY

The root filled maxillary first molar was chosen as the comparison model. The Swedish Social Insurance Agency provided data on all teeth reported as root filled in Sweden during 2009. A comparison group, equally large as the study group, was constructed by randomly selecting subjects with root filled maxillary first molars, which had not subsequently been extracted, that is, an uneventful outcome. Demographic data on the subjects were obtained from Statistics Sweden: country of birth, disposable income, educational level, age, civil status and gender. Chi-square, t-tests and logistic regression were used for statistical analyses.

RESULTS

In the year 2009, 36 139 maxillary first molar teeth were reported to have been root filled, 4362 (12.1%) of which were then recorded as extracted during the following 5-6 year period. Only minor intergroup differences were noted: 86.5% of the study group were Swedish-born, compared with 84.4% of the comparison group (P = 0.007). Women comprised 53.2% of the study group and 50.5% (P = 0.01) of the comparison group. There was an association between extractions and gender as well as age; men had a lower odds ratio (OR) for extraction OR, 0.87; confidence interval (CI), 0.80-0.95. For every additional year, the chance for extraction was higher OR, 1.01; CI, 1.01-1.01. No other significant differences were detected.

CONCLUSIONS

There was only little or no demographic differences between the study group, comprising Swedish adults who had undergone root filling of one of their maxillary first molars in 2009 and subsequent extraction during the following 5-6 years, and the comparison group, with uneventful outcomes after a corresponding root filling.

Radiological diagnosis of periapical bone tissue lesions in endodontics: a systematic review

This systematic review evaluates the diagnostic accuracy of radiographic methods employed to indicate presence/absence and changes over time of periapical bone lesions. Also investigated were the leads radiographic images may give about the nature of the process and the condition of the pulp in nonendodontically treated teeth. Electronic literature search included the databases PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL from January 1950 to June 2011. All languages were accepted provided there was an abstract in English. The MeSH terms were 'Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)', 'Radiography, panoramic', 'Periapical diseases', 'Dental pulp diseases', 'Sensitivity and specificity', 'receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve', 'Cadaver', 'Endodontics' and 'Radiography dental'. Two reviewers independently assessed abstracts and full text articles. An article was read in full text if at least one of the two reviewers considered an abstract to be potentially relevant. Altogether, 181 articles were read in full text. The GRADE approach was used to assess the quality of evidence of each radiographic method based on studies of high or moderate quality. Twenty-six studies fulfilled criteria set for inclusion. None was of high quality; 11 were of moderate quality. There is insufficient evidence that the digital intraoral radiographic technique is diagnostically as accurate as the conventional film technique. The same applies to CBCT. No conclusions can be drawn regarding the accuracy of radiological examination in identifying various forms of periapical bone tissue changes or about the pulpal condition.

Technical quality of root fillings and periapical status in root filled teeth in Jönköping, Sweden

AIM

To study changes in technical quality of root fillings and periapical status in root filled teeth in random samples of 20 to 70 year-olds between 1973 and 2003.

METHODOLOGY

Data from dentate subjects aged 20-70 years from examinations conducted in 1973 (n = 498), 1983 (n = 530), 1993 (n = 547) and 2003 (n = 491) were used for the analysis. Length of root fillings were measured on radiographs to the nearest 0.1 mm. Adequate seal was defined as a root filling without lateral and/or apical voids. Periapical status was assessed according to the periapical index. All observations were made by one calibrated observer registered from full mouth radiographic examinations. Teeth with root fillings ending within the canal without lateral or apical voids were considered adequate. The association between root filling quality and periapical status was analysed by means of the Chi-squared test and a multilevel logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Adequately root filled teeth had a significantly lower frequency of apical periodontitis than inadequately root filled teeth (11.8% vs. 22.8%). The frequency of technically adequate root fillings increased statistically significant from 1973 (23.7%) to 2003 (36.4%) without a concomitant improvement of the periapical status in root filled teeth over time (24.5% vs. 24.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study reports on an improving technical quality of root fillings over time, without a concomitant improvement of the periapical status in root filled teeth. A larger proportion of treated molars over time may be of importance for the result.

A 24-year follow-up of root filled teeth and periapical health amongst middle aged and elderly women in Goteborg, Sweden

AIM

To describe the endodontic status amongst middle-aged and elderly women longitudinally and cross-sectionally over 24 years.

METHODOLOGY

A random sample of 1462 women 38, 46, 50, 54 and 60 years old, living in Göteborg, Sweden, were sampled in 1968 for medical and dental examinations with a participation rate of 90.1%. The same women were re-examined in 1980 and 1992 together with new 38- and 50-year-old women. The dental examination consisted of questionnaires, clinical and panoramic radiological survey (OPG). The number of teeth, number of root filled teeth (RF) and number of teeth with periapical radiolucencies (PA) were registered. The RF and PA ratios were calculated. Cross-sectional data were analysed by means of anova and longitudinal data by a general linear model for repeated measures. Sample prevalences were compared and statistical inferences were made with the chi-squared test. In all analysis, the confidence interval (CI) regarded mean difference between groups (95% CI).

RESULTS

The RF and PA ratio decreased over time as well as the frequency of edentulous subjects. Cross-sectional analysis revealed a minor increase in frequency of RF and PA and loss of teeth with age. Longitudinally, loss of teeth was evident in all cohorts. In addition, there was a trend of lower number of teeth with PA, and the RF ratio increased with age.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of periapical disease did not increase with age, probably as a result of root canal treatment and extractions. Data showed that the prevalence of RF teeth and teeth with PA decreased for comparable age cohorts during the 24-year follow-up.