Periapical status and quality of root fillings and coronal restorations in an adult Turkish subpopulation

Objectives: To investigate the quality of root fillings and coronal restorations and their association with periapical status in an adult Turkish subpopulation.

Methods: A total of 400 subjects were examined. Panoramic radiographs of all participants and additional periapical radiographs of affected teeth were processed. The frequency of root canal treatment and the periapical status of all root filled teeth were evaluated. The relationship between the radiographic quality of root fillings and coronal restorations was examined by chi-squared statistical analysis.

Results: A total of 9460 teeth were examined. The total number of root filled teeth was 890 (9.39%), and 658 (73.9%) had apical periodontitis (AP). There was a significant correlation between the presence of periapical pathology and inadequate root canal fillings (P<.05). Presence of AP in root filled teeth was associated with inadequate adaptation of the filling (OR=1.097; P=0.54), and with poor radiographic quality of the coronal restoration (OR=0.91; P=0.70), and with poor radiographic quality of the filling restoration (OR=0.97; P=0.92). Only 24.5% of the root fillings were adequate. The highest percentage of root fillings was found in maxillary right first molars (6.9%).

Conclusions: The results demonstrate a low prevalence of root-filled teeth and poor quality of coronal restorations and root fillings consistent with a high prevalence of apical periodontitis in a Turkish subpopulation.