Endoscopic findings in periapical surgery. A cross-sectional study of 206 roots

ABSTRACT

Background: A study is made of the findings of high-magnification rigid endoscopy at the root end surface following apicoectomy of teeth subjected to periapical surgery.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was made of patients subjected to periapical surgery at the Unitof Oral Surgery and Implantology (University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain) between 2011 and 2019. Followingapicoectomy, the root end surfaces were inspected, with the evaluation of untreated canals, isthmuses, craze lines,crack lines, opaque dentin and gaps. Likewise, an analysis was made of the association between patient age andthe tooth type and restoration and the presence of craze lines, cracks, opaque dentin and gaps.Results: The final sample consisted of 168 patients subjected to periapical surgery, with 177 operated teeth and206 roots. Untreated canals were observed in 14 roots (6.8%). Isthmuses were identified in 74 roots (35.9%),particularly in the mesial root of the lower first molar (94.1%). In turn, craze lines were identified in 8.3% of theroots, cracks in 3.9%, and gaps in 53.4%. The prevalence of opaque dentin was 78.3%, with a greater presence inposterior teeth (90.3% in premolars and 86.2% in molars) than in anterior teeth (50.6%) (p<0.001). Patient age andtooth restoration showed no correlation to the studied parameters.Conclusions: Craze lines and crack lines were observed in less than 10% of the roots, though opaque dentin wasidentified in 73% of the roots, particularly in posterior teeth, and gaps were found in over half of the canals. (AU)