A Study of Radiographic Changes in Endodontically Treated Teeth Restored with Intra-Radicular Posts

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to evaluate, by examination of periapical radiographs, whether the application of intra-radicular posts in endodontically treated teeth can lead to the development of periapical lesions. A total of 103 panoramic radiographs from 103 patients (263 endodontically treated teeth) from Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Varna, Bulgaria were investigated. From the 263 teeth evaluated, 58 (22%) had intra-radicular posts. While examining the radiographs a predetermined set of radiographic criteria was included: all teeth should be endodontically treated and have coronal restorations, the intra-radicular posts should be metal cast posts. The success rate for all endodontically treated teeth (n=58) was 70,7%. The following results show that using intra-radicular posts for restoration of endodontically treated teeth do not lead to periapical lesions in the practice where most of the patients were treated. It is most important to perform the coronal restorations carefully in order to avoid coronal microleakage