Predictors of apical periodontitis in root canal treated teeth from an adult Nepalese subpopulation: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Endodontic literature search revealed that no study has been conducted to evaluate the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) in root canal treated teeth from an adult Nepalese population of Madhesh Province. Consequently, little is known about the extent and risk factors associated with it. This study aimed to determine AP prevalence in root canal treated teeth from an adult Nepalese subpopulation and to analyze the related risk factors including age, sex, tooth type, type of coronal restoration and quality of root canal treatment and coronal restoration as predictors of AP. METHODS: Digital panoramic radiographs were evaluated. Periapical status of 300 root canal-treated teeth was scored by using the periapical index. The quality of root canal treatment and coronal restorations were categorized as adequate or inadequate through radiographic and clinical evaluation. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: Prevalence of AP in the present study was 31.7%. In 45.7% of the treated teeth, quality of root canal treatment was adequate whereas 46% of the cases had adequate coronal restorations. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed statistically significant associations and remarkably increased risk for AP in teeth with inadequate root canal treatment (odds ratio [OR] = 7.92; 95% CI: 3.96-15.82; p < 0.001) whereas lower risk for AP was found in females (OR = 0.51; 95% CI: 0.28-0.90; p = 0.021) and in teeth restored with crown (OR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.09-0.51; p < 0.001) and filling (OR = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.08-0.42; p < 0.001). Quality of coronal restoration, tooth type and age of the patient were not found to be the predictors of AP. CONCLUSIONS: Within the limits of this study, a high prevalence of AP and poor overall quality of root canal treatment and coronal restoration was found in the subpopulation studied. Quality of root canal treatment, type of coronal restoration and sex of the patient are significant predictors of possible AP development in root canal treated teeth. Substantial efforts are needed to improve the endodontic treatment standards.

The evaluation of effective rate and pain intensity of root canal treatment in primary teeth-a retrospective study.

Two-visit root canal treatment for children reduce the time of visits and the by-chair time in comparison with the three-visit root canal treatment. However, it is not clear whether two-visit root canal treatment increase the risk of complications. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects and post-operative pain intensity after the root canal treatment between two-visit and three-visit groups in primary molars from children.106 patients were screened for eligibility, of which 74 went back to the preservation visit. Therefore, 74 primary molars from 74 children that diagnosed with chronic pulp and periodontal tissue diseases in the clinics of pediatric dentistry were retrospectively analyzed, in which 37 in the two-visit group and 37 in the three-visit group. The total effective rate and postoperative pain intensity were assessed after treatment and all statistical data were carried out with SPSS software.The average age of children in the two-visit and three-visit groups was 6.4 and 7.0, respectively, with no significant difference (p = 0.056). The two-visit group consisted of 59.5% male and 40.5% female children, while the three-visit group consisted of 56.8% male children and 43.2% female children (p = 0.813). Two months after treatment, the total effective rate in the three-visit group was 97.30%, a little higher than that in the two-visit group (94.59%), but with no significant difference (p = 0.201). Besides, there was also no significant difference in pain intensity between the two-visit and three-visit groups (p = 0.692). Therefore, there were no significant difference of total effective rate and pain intensity in root canal treatment between the two-visit and three-visit groups in primary molars from children.

Predicting early endodontic treatment failure following primary root canal treatment.

BACKGROUND: Understanding when and why endodontic treatments fail could help clinicians make prognoses and thus improve treatment outcomes. This study was aimed to assess potential predictors of early endodontic treatment failure. We explored factors contributing to the failure of initial root canal treatment were explored, with a specific emphasis on evaluating the influence of the time elapsed since the initial treatment. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study enrolled 1262 patients who sought endodontic treatment at our department and 175 patients were included for analysis. Potential causes of endodontic treatment failure were investigated, such as inadequate obturation quality, inadequate coronal status, the presence of additional untreated canals, anatomical complexity, instrument separation, iatrogenic perforation, cracks, and endodontic-periodontal lesions. The patients were divided into "short-term" and "long-term" groups depending on the time that had passed since the initial treatment (i.e., < 5 and > 10 years, respectively). The causes of failure in the short-term and long-term group were analyzed and compared using logistic regression analyses. Subgroup analysis was performed according to the number of years since the initial treatment in the short-term group to further investigate the association between the time and cause of failure (i.e., < 1, 2, 3, and 4 years, respectively). RESULTS: Untreated additional canals were present in 21.7% of all cases, and in 36.9 and 6.4% of cases in the short-term and long-term groups, respectively. Multivariable analysis showed that the presence of untreated additional canals was significantly associated with short-term compared to long-term failure. Untreated additional canals were also associated with endodontic failure within 1, 2, 3, and 4 years. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of untreated additional canals was a predictor of endodontic failure within 5 years following initial root canal treatment. To optimize long-term prognosis, it is important to detect and treat all root canals during the initial treatment.

Managing Endodontic Complications: The Pathophysiology and Treatment of Flare-ups.

At its core, endodontics is a specialty centered on saving patients' teeth. Nonsurgical root canal therapy and nonsurgical retreatment, arguably the "bread and butter" of endodontics, not only facilitate the preservation of the natural dentition, but in many cases, alleviate pain. Most patients arrive for endodontic treatment expecting symptom relief. A small percentage of these patients, however, experience just the opposite. Within 48 to 72 hours, these select patients experience worsening symptoms, including swelling and pain, and may wonder what mishaps may have occurred during their treatment. These symptom exacerbations are referred to as endodontic flare-ups and are well-documented in the literature. In most cases their occurrence does not reflect a lack of practitioner judgment or skill, but rather a biologic event resulting from a shift in the delicate balance of the bacterial communities and inflammatory events at the periapex. This article reviews the pathophysiology and treatment of endodontic flare-ups, thereby informing patient communication strategies surrounding these events, to preserve both the teeth in question as well as patient relationships.

Postoperative pain after single-visit root canal treatment or vital pulp therapy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review aimed to investigate whether vital pulp therapy and root canal treatment (RCT) promote different postoperative pain. STUDIES REVIEWED: The authors searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature databases for studies published through June 30, 2022. The authors included randomized clinical trials if they reported on the assessment of postoperative pain after direct pulp capping, partial pulpotomy, pulpotomy, or single-visit RCT. The authors assessed the frequency of no, mild, moderate, and severe postoperative pain. They conducted meta-analyses to compare postoperative pain after full pulpotomy (PULP) and RCT. RESULTS: The qualitative synthesis included 57 studies, and the authors conducted meta-analysis of 3. PULP leads to more asymptomatic cases (relative risk [RR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.11; P < .01; I2 = 67%) and to a lower occurrence of mild (RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.79 to 0.99; P < .04; I2 = 37%) and moderate (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.95; P < .02; I2 = 57%) postoperative pain than RCT. The frequency of severe pain was very low for both vital pulp therapy and RCT. Moderate to severe postoperative pain was more common at 48 hours through 72 hours after RCT and up to 36 hours after PULP. Pain intensity after PULP was higher using calcium-enriched material compared with using mineral trioxide aggregate at 12, 18, and 36 hours (P < .001). PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: PULP showed a significantly higher incidence of no pain and a lower incidence of mild and moderate pain than single-visit RCT. Clinical decisions for RCT or PULP should not be based on differences in postoperative pain. When analgesia is indicated, it probably should be limited to a short time after PULP.

Evaluation of Pain Following the Use of Different Single-file Glide Path Systems: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate postoperative pain intensity following glide-path preparation using the ProGlider (PG) and WaveOne Gold Glider (WOGG) systems in asymptomatic teeth with necrotic pulp and periapical lesions. METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05955742) maxillary and mandibular molars with asymptomatic apical periodontitis of 78 patients (age, 18-65 years) were included. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups: control (n = 26), PG (n = 26), and WOGG (n = 26). All the systems were used according to the manufacturer's instructions, and all the root canal treatments were completed by a single operator within 2 sessions. Postoperative pain was assessed using a numerical rating scale at 6, 12, 18, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Analgesics administered and abscess formation were also recorded. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U, Bonferroni Dunn, Friedman, Chi-square, and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS: The postoperative pain at 12 and 18 hours was lower in the WOGG group than in the other groups (P < .05). The postoperative pain scores at 6 and 24 hours were higher among women than among men (P < .05). The highest postoperative pain scores were observed at 6 hours (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: The WOGG glide-path file system was associated with less postoperative pain than the other systems. Abscess formation and analgesic use were higher in the PG group than in the other groups. Postoperative pain was greater in women than in men.

Risk factors associated with the survival of endodontically treated teeth: A retrospective chart review.

BACKGROUND: Studies on risk factors affecting tooth retention after endodontic treatment in dental school settings are limited. Understanding these factors is crucial for preserving teeth. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate patient- and tooth-level risk factors associated with the survival of endodontically treated teeth. METHODS: Electronic health records of patients who underwent endodontic treatment at the School of Dental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania from 2017 through 2020 were analyzed. Patient-level factors included age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Classification, smoking history, diabetes status, and amoxicillin allergy. Tooth-level factors included position, presence of restorations, and periodontal conditions with preprosthetic treatments. RESULTS: The results of this study indicate that the patient-level factors significantly associated with tooth retention included age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Classification Status, and amoxicillin allergy. Tooth-level factors such as core buildup, full-coverage crown, healthy periodontium, and scaling and root planing were also associated with higher survival rates. Mandibular premolars had higher survival rates than mandibular molars. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation revealed that the tooth retention rate of endodontically treated teeth was 96.2% after initial root canal treatment, 92.4% for nonsurgical re-treatment, and 97.8% for surgical re-treatment. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The tooth retention of the endodontic treatment was associated with healthy periodontium, tooth structure, tooth position, tooth restoration, and the patient's overall health.

Retrospective Assessment of Endodontically Treated Teeth Replaced by Dental Implants.

INTRODUCTION: This study investigated endodontically treated teeth that were replaced by dental implants at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry. The primary objective of this study was to determine the reasons leading to the extraction of endodontically treated teeth and their subsequent replacement with dental implants. The secondary objective was to evaluate the proportion of these teeth that, according to experienced endodontists, could have been preserved. METHODS: The UNC-Chapel Hill's dental electronic health records between 2004 and 2019 were probed for implant placement that replaced root canal-treated teeth. Preextraction radiographs and clinical charts were examined to ascertain the primary reason related to the extraction and to compile a profile for each case. In cases in which endodontic failure was the primary reason for extraction, radiographs and clinical findings were evaluated by 2experienced endodontists to assess potential treatment options. RESULTS: Between 2004 and 2019, 29.3% (1564 of 5229) of teeth replaced by dental implants at UNC School of Dentistry had undergone root canal treatment, with the mandibular first molar being the most commonly replaced tooth. The leading reasons for extraction were recurrent caries associated with defective restoration (26.6%), fracture of coronal structure (21.5%), vertical root fracture (20.9%), compromised periodontal condition (13.8%), and endodontic failure (2.4%). Two experienced endodontists evaluated extractions due to endodontic failure and concluded that 61.7% of them could have been candidates for endodontic retreatment. CONCLUSION: Substantial loss of tooth structure was the leading cause of extraction of root canal-treated teeth, followed by vertical root fracture and periodontal disease. Although endodontic failure constituted a minor portion of the reasons for extraction, a considerable number of teeth were extracted due to vertical root fractures following root canal treatment. A significant proportion of the extracted teeth due to endodontic failure could have been considered as potential candidates for endodontic retreatment.

The Incidence of Devitalization of Vital Teeth Associated with Pathologies of the Jaws Following Surgical Intervention: A Mixed-case Study.

AIM: The purpose of this mixed-case study is to explore the incidence of pulp necrosis of vital teeth after surgical treatment of adjacent lesions of the jaws. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 341 biopsies submitted to the institute's histopathology laboratory were reviewed to include cases that met the inclusion criteria. About 84 biopsies collected from patients during surgical enucleation of lesions in proximity to healthy vital teeth were included of which 22 patients were recalled. Adjacent teeth were examined clinically and radiographically to assess their pulpal and periapical status after at least 8 months of follow-up. RESULTS: There were 7 different pathological lesions diagnosed histologically. The follow-up period ranged between 8 and 72 months; 12 cases (54.6%) have developed pulpal necrosis for at least one tooth after surgical enucleation of the lesion. The other 10 cases (45.4%) showed normal responses to sensibility testing for all the teeth adjacent to the lesion. Ten out of the 12 cases (83%) that underwent pulpal necrosis were associated with odontogenic cysts, whereas the remaining 2 were associated with periapical granuloma and fibrous dysplasia. CONCLUSION: Pulp necrosis is high in vital teeth associated with lesions without pulpal involvement. These teeth may benefit from root canal treatment prior to surgical enucleation of the lesion, which may prevent impaired healing or recurrence of infection. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Careful treatment planning and thorough discussion should take place between the surgeons, endodontists, and patients prior to executing the treatment. The patient should be aware that there is a possibility that they may need root canal treatment as a preventative measure to enhance the chances of healing following the surgical procedures and in case the patients opted not to perform root canal treatment beforehand, close follow-up in the future should take place to monitor the vitality of the teeth in the follow-up visits.

Assessing the occurrence and severity of pre- and postendodontic pain in anemic and healthy female patients.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this current survey was to assess both the occurrence and severity of pre- and post-endodontic pain among female individuals, distinguishing between those with anemia and those without. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current study, we included a total of 60 women with anemia (hemoglobin < 11) and those without anemia (hemoglobin > 13). We recorded the occurrence and severity of pain before and at 24, 48, and 72 h following root canal treatment using a visual analog scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 10. Additionally, we collected data on patient age, tooth type, as well as pulpal and periapical conditions. Statistical analysis was carried out using two-way ANOVA, pairedt-tests, and Pearson correlation coefficient. The significance level for statistical tests was set at p ≤ .05. RESULTS: The incidence of preoperative pain in both anemic and non-anemic patients was 80%. The total incidence of post-operative pain was recorded as 71.7% (82.2% in anemic and 61.1% in non-anemic women). Compared with the pretreatment pain incidence and intensity, the values increased in 24 h but declined in 48 h and 72 h after treatment. Considering the posttreatment pain intensity, the mean values were higher in the three time intervals (24, 48, and 72 h) in anemic patients. Pulpal and periapical status, in contrast to age and tooth type, significantly contributed to the intensity of posttreatment pain. CONCLUSION: Regarding the importance of pain phenomenon in human life, it is recommended to consider anemia as an important risk factor for post-endodontic pain. Early diagnosis and analgesic treatment interventions in anemic females, alongside the pain control during root canal treatment, could promote the patient's satisfaction and quality of care.

The role of systemic statins in the inception and healing of apical periodontitis: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Statins are a category of medications widely used to reduce plasma LDL-cholesterol levels, that also possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory action. The aim of this systematic review was to explore the effects of systemic statins therapy on the development and treatment of apical periodontitis (AP) on humans and animals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) and grey literature were searched from their inception until February, 20 2023 (PROSPERO CRD42021246231). For the quality assessment and risk of bias, different guidelines were used according to the typology of the studies considered (Animal Research Reporting of In Vivo Experiments, Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Form for Cohort Studies, Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation Risk of Bias tool and Tool to assess risk of bias in cohort studies of CLARITY Group). RESULTS: Seven hundred eleven records were screened, and six articles were included for this qualitative review. The eligible studies showed a moderate overall quality and risk of bias. Human patients in treatment with statins exhibited a higher healing rate of AP following root canal treatment. In experimental animal models, statins had a beneficial effect on the development of AP. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the limited number of studies and considering that most of them are on animals, our findings suggest that systemically administered statins make a positive contribution to prevent the development and help healing of AP. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is an increased evidence that a pharmacologic adjunct to endodontic treatment may be considered to enhance healing of AP. Among other medications, statins seem to have a positive impact on the disease.

Diabetes Mellitus Increases the Risk of Apical Periodontitis in Endodontically-Treated Teeth: A Meta-Analysis from 15 Studies.

INTRODUCTION: At present, the incidence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is gradually increasing globally. In clinical practice, many patients with diabetes with apical periodontitis (AP) have poor and slow healing of periapical lesions. However, the potential relationship between the 2 is still unclear and controversial. The consensus is that DM can be deemed a risk factor for AP in endodontically-treated teeth. Therefore, we pooled existing studies and carried out a meta-analysis to explore the potential association between the 2. METHODS: Studies that met the inclusion criteria were selected from the database, and relevant data were extracted. Stata SE 17.0 software was used to analyze the relevant data, and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the literature's quality. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to determine the strength of the association between DM and the prevalence of AP after root canal treatment (RCT). RESULTS: After searching, 262 relevant studies were retrieved, fifteen of which met the inclusion criteria. A total of 1087 patients with 2226 teeth were included in this meta-analysis. According to the findings, diabetics showed a higher prevalence of AP after RCT than controls at the tooth level (OR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.22-1.87, P < .01). At the patient level, DM increased the probability of developing AP in RCT teeth more than 3 times (OR = 3.38, 95% CI = 1.65-6.93, P < .01). Additionally, subgroup analysis was performed by blood glucose status, preoperative AP, and study design. Except for the status of blood glucose, the results were significant in the other 2 groups (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Available scientific evidence suggests that DM may increase the risk of AP in endodontically-treated teeth. In teeth with preoperative AP, DM might promote the development of AP.

Process-related Factors Are as Important as Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Nonsurgical Root Canal Treatment, Nonsurgical Root Canal Retreatment, and Endodontic Microsurgery.

INTRODUCTION: There is considerable variation in the reporting of treatment outcomes in endodontics. Patient-centered outcomes are often inadequately reported in endodontic outcome studies. This paper explores patients' expectations and reported outcomes in nonsurgical root canal treatment (NS-RCT), nonsurgical root canal retreatment (NS-ReTx), and endodontic microsurgery (EMS). METHODS: We used a qualitative description approach and conducted telephone and virtual semi-structured interviews with participants who had the following treatments within the preceding 3-12 months: NS-RCT (n = 10), NS-ReTx (n = 10), or EMS (n = 10). Half of these treatments were performed by senior endodontic residents in an academic setting and the other half by a community-based endodontist at a private practice. RESULTS: Participants identified several outcomes that were important to them and integral to treatment success, such as tooth survival, resolution of symptoms, aesthetics, and radiographic healing. Process-related factors were as important as treatment outcomes for participants. Communicating with and educating patients during treatment increased participants' satisfaction and lowered their stress. Dissatisfaction was linked to the lack of a comprehensive treatment and follow-up plan. Thorough planning ensured that patients were fully informed and had a structured approach to achieving their desired outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a list of outcomes that are important for patients undergoing NS-RCT, NS-ReTx, and EMS. These outcomes should be considered when developing a core outcome set related to endodontic treatments. Additionally, this study reports patients' expectations regarding process-related factors that are essential for providing patient-centered care and improving patient experience.

Is Etiology a Key Factor for Regenerative Endodontic Treatment Outcomes?

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes of regenerative endodontic treatment (RET) in nonvital immature permanent teeth due to developmental malformation and trauma, and to analyze the influence of etiology on the prognosis. METHODS: Fifty-five cases were included and divided into a malformation group (n = 33) and a trauma group (n = 22). Treatment outcomes were classified as healed, healing, and failure. Root development was evaluated in terms of root morphology and the percentage changes in root length, root width, and apical diameter during a follow-up period of 12-85 months (mean 30.8 months). RESULTS: The mean age and the mean degree of root development in the trauma group were significantly younger than that in the malformation group. The success rate of RET was 93.9% (81.8% healed, 12.1% healing) in the malformation group and 90.9% (68.2% healed, 22.7% healing) in the trauma group, showing no statistically significant difference. The proportion of type I-III root morphology in the malformation group (97%, 32/33) was significantly higher than that in the trauma group (77.3%, 17/22) (P < .05), whereas there was no significant difference in the percentage changes of root length, root width, and apical diameter between the 2 groups. Six cases (6/55, 10.9%) showed no significant root development (type IV-V) (1 in the malformation group and 5 in the trauma group). Six cases (6/55, 10.9%) revealed intracanal calcification. CONCLUSIONS: RET achieved reliable outcomes regarding the healing of apical periodontitis and continued root development. The etiology seems to influence the outcome of RET. Malformation cases presented with a better prognosis than trauma cases after RET.

Risk Factors for and Clinical Presentations Indicative of Vertical Root Fracture in Endodontically Treated Teeth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to identify specific clinical signs or symptoms and potential risk factors which are most likely associated with the presence of a vertical root fracture (VRF) in endodontically treated teeth (ETT). METHODS: Electronic databases (MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE via Ovid, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched by 2 reviewers in October 2022 for clinical studies, in which at least either the clinical presentation or potential risk factors associated with a VRF were assessed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Meta-analyses of odds ratios (ORs) were performed separately for several signs or symptoms and risk factors. RESULTS: Fourteen sources reporting on 2877 teeth (489 with VRF and 2388 without VRF) were included in the meta-analyses. Regarding the clinical presentation, the presence of sinus tracts (OR = 4.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.58-15.0), increased periodontal probing depths (OR = 13.24; 95% CI, 5.44-32.22), swelling/abscess (OR = 2.86; 95% CI, 1.74-4.70), and tenderness to percussion (OR = 1.76; 95% CI, 1.18-2.61) were significantly associated with the presence of a VRF (Padj. value < .05). None of the assessed risk factors (sex, type of teeth, tooth location, posts, indirect restoration, and apical extension of the root canal filling) were found to be significantly associated with the presence of a VRF (Padj. value > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Four clinical presentations were identified to be the most significant signs or symptoms for a VRF in ETT: presence of sinus tracts, increased probing depths, swelling/abscess, and tenderness to percussion. None of the assessed risk factors pointed out to be significantly associated with a VRF. REGISTRATION: CRD42022354108 (PROSPERO).

The Effect of Final Irrigation Agitation Techniques on Postoperative Pain after Single Visit Root Canal Treatment of Symptomatic Irreversible Pulpitis: A Randomised Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree of postoperative pain and rate of analgesic intake in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in mandibular first molar teeth at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h after using different irrigation activation techniques in single-visit endodontic treatment. METHODS: A total of 78 patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis with no signs of periapical pathology were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the final irrigation activation technique; Group XP-endo Finisher, Group Ultra X ultrasonic device, and Group side-vented needle. The teeth underwent standardised single-visit root canal treatment procedures using 2.5% sodium hypochlorite for irrigation. Each patient was given a chart to record postoperative pain at 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours intervals. Ibuprofen, 400 mg tablets, was prescribed to be taken when the pain was unbearable. The incidence and number of analgesic tablets taken were recorded. Data were analysed using a Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a pairwise Mann-Whitney U test with Bonferroni correction for intergroup comparisons and Freidman's test followed by Dunn's post hoc test for intragroup comparisons. RESULTS: No statistically significant difference was found between all groups regarding the incidence and intensity of pain at different time intervals (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in analgesic intake between different groups, with most cases in all groups not taking analgesics (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Adding XP-endo Finisher or passive ultrasonic irrigation to the final irrigation protocol in singlevisit endodontic treatment had no significant effect on postoperative pain or analgesic intake. (EEJ-2021-11-185).

Pharmacological Management of Anxiety on Pain Occurrence During Root Canal Treatment: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To answer the question: 'Does the pharmacological management of dental anxiety influence pain occurrence during root canal treatment?' METHODS: Searches on MEDLINE/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE and Open Grey were conducted until September 02, 2022. Only randomised clinical trials were included. The Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials (RoB 2) was used. The overall quality of evidence was assessed through the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool. RESULTS: Initial screening resulted in 811 studies. Three hundred seventy-three were excluded for being duplicates. Of 438 eligible papers, ten studies met the inclusion criteria and were selected for full-text reading. Four studies were included in the final analysis. Three studies had a low risk of bias, and one was a high risk. GRADE demonstrated a low quality of evidence. CONCLUSION: There is insufficient evidence to determine whether the pharmacological control of anxiety can influence intraoperative pain occurrence. (EEJ-2022-08-096).

Root filled teeth in two parallel Danish cohorts: A repeated longitudinal cohort study.

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare the frequency of root filled teeth and quality of root fillings (RFs) in two parallel, Danish cohorts each examined over 10 years and to evaluate factors associated with apical periodontitis (AP) and extraction of root filled teeth. METHODOLOGY: Two randomly selected cohorts (C1, C2) from Aarhus (age: 20-64 years) were followed for approximately 10 years, with full-mouth radiographic surveys performed at 5-year intervals (C1: 1997-2003-2008; C2: 2009-2014-2019). Frequency of root filled teeth, quality of RFs and coronal restorations, periapical status and tooth extraction were registered. Logistic regression analyses compared C1 with C2 for baseline and follow-up periods and assessed variables associated with AP (PAI-based) and extraction of root filled teeth. RESULTS: C1 included 330 and C2, 170 individuals, mean age 42.9 and 47.3 years, respectively, who attended all three radiographic examinations. The relative frequency of root filled teeth was lower in C2 than C1 at baseline (C1: 4.7%, C2: 3.6%; p < .001) and after 10 years (C1: 5.7%, C2: 4.2%; p < .001). The relative frequency of new RFs was lower in C2 than in C1 (p = .02). C2 had fewer short/long RFs at baseline than C1; quality of new RFs or coronal restorations was similar in C1 and C2. The risk of tooth extraction (p = .93) and risk of AP (p = .37) at 10-year follow-up was similar between the two cohorts. For both C1 and C2, root filled teeth with AP at baseline had increased risk of having AP (p < .001) or having been extracted (p < .001) at follow-up. Risk of extraction was higher for root filled premolars (p = .01) and molars (p = .01) than anteriors. Risk of AP at follow-up was higher for root filled molars (p < .001). Furthermore, inadequate quality of RFs (p = .02) and coronal restorations (p = .04) increased the risk of AP at follow-up in C1 and C2. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of root filled teeth and new RFs decreased and little to no change in new RFs' quality, AP, or tooth extraction was seen over time (1997-2019). Root filled molars and teeth with AP at baseline had increased risk of AP and extraction.

Effect of GuttaClear on Postoperative Pain After Root Canal Retreatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative pain after non-surgical root canal retreatment with or without GuttaClear. METHODS: Sixty participants were randomly distributed in this non-inferiority trial into two parallel singleblinded experimental groups (Group1: non-solvent, Group2: solvent). After root canal retreatment, the participants completed questionnaires using direct (numerical rating scales) and indirect (number of analgesics taken) measurements of postoperative pain at immediate, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h post-retreatment. The predisposing postoperative pain factors were recorded and analysed using Generalized Estimating Equations to identify correlated factors (α=0.05). RESULTS: The pain incidence was not significantly different between the groups at any time point. The highest incidence of postoperative pain occurred immediately after retreatment (35%) and then decreased to 15% at 24 h (P<0.05). The number of participants requiring analgesics was 6.67% in the non-solvent group and 9.99% in the solvent group which were similar between the groups. Patients with a history of previous postoperative pain were 21.6-fold more likely to have postoperative pain than those without (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in postoperative pain or analgesics required after root canal retreatment with or without using GuttaClear. This study is registered in ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT04326998). (EEJ-2022-05-069).

What ultimately matters in root canal treatment success and tooth preservation: A 25-year cohort study.

AIM: There are currently no prospective studies evaluating the long-term outcomes of non-surgical root canal treatments beyond 5 years, both in terms of treatment success and tooth preservation, and identifying factors predictive of treatment outcome. The aim of the present work was therefore to fill this gap by assessing these outcomes over time and identifying predictive variables based on systematic data collection over a 25-year period. METHODOLOGY: Data concerning the treatments (N = 2500) were systematically collected since 1990. Information was recorded among clinical, technical, radiographic and patient-related characteristics, i.e., approximately 150 variables for each treatment. The data were analysed regarding both treatment success and tooth preservation by multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, and survival curves were generated. The statistical significance level was set at 0.0125. RESULTS: In total, 56.4% of the treatments could be followed over time (0-25 years, mean = 6.5 years, median = 5 years). Survival probability decreased almost linearly for treatment success, with about 85% after 5 years and 60% after 20 years, and for tooth preservation, with about 90% at 5 years and 50% at 20 years. The variables significantly associated with treatment failure were: pre-operative pain (Hazard Ratio-HR = 1.56 [95% CI 1.23-1.97]), persistent pain (HR = 2.63 [95% CI 1.44-4.80]), good operator rating of treatment prognosis (HR = 0.46 [95% CI 0.36-0.58]), size of periapical bone radiolucency (HR = 1.88 [95% CI 1.67-2.11]), and tooth type (p = .0006). For tooth extraction, they were: combined endodontic-periodontal lesion (HR = 3.37 [95% CI 1.88-6.05]), pre-existing complication before treatment (HR = 1.67 [95% CI 1.26-2.21]), good operator rating of treatment prognosis (HR = 0.45 [95% CI 0.33-0.60]), clinical failure of root canal treatment (HR = 2.78 [95% CI 1.98-3.89]) and tooth type (p = .0012). CONCLUSION: Root canal treatment success and tooth preservation on the arch are not static outcomes, but evolve with time. Among a substantial set of potential predictors, only a small proportion was significantly predictive of treatment success and tooth preservation, most of them being disease and patient characteristics, and not technical aspects, except pre-existing complications. These observations challenge the importance frequently given to byzantine considerations related to the numerous technical details of endodontic procedures, as opposed to general concepts of good clinical practice.