Periapical status and technical quality of root-filled teeth in Swedish adolescents and young adults. A retrospective study

Abstract

Objective. The aim was to study periapical status and the technical quality of root-filled teeth in Swedish adolescents and young adults in Malmö, Sweden. Material and Methods. The sample, collected from dental records in the Public Dental Service, consisted of notes and radiographs of all root-filled permanent teeth in all 19-year-olds born in 1979 (mean age at root filling = 16.2 years). The sample for assessing periapical status and technical quality consisted of 124–153 teeth. The criterion for inclusion for assessing periapical status was a follow-up time of at least one year. Periapical status was assessed with the Periapical Index (PAI). Technical quality was analyzed from radiographs in two respects: sealing quality of the root canal and distance from the root filling to the radiographic apex. The radiographs were analyzed independently by two observers with inter-examiner kappa values of 0.82–0.85. Results. Apical periodontitis was found in 52% of the teeth and occurred significantly more often among molars than among anterior teeth. As judged radiographically, 51% of the teeth were inadequately sealed. In 38%, the distance to the apex was >2 mm and overfilling was registered in 14% of the teeth. Compared with anterior teeth, significantly more root fillings of molars had a distance to the apex of >2 mm. Technical quality was statistically significantly correlated with periapical status at follow-up. Conclusions. The technical quality and periapical status of root-filled teeth in adolescents and young adults were unsatisfactory in about half of the teeth.