Prevalence of apical periodontitis and endodontic treatment in a Kosovar adult population

Abstract

BackgroundDespite numerous studies on the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) and endodontic treatment in diverse geographical populations, there are currently no data on the prevalence of these conditions in populations of adults native to Kosovo. Therefore, little is known about how widespread these conditions are, and whether there is any correlation between root canal treatment and AP. The purpose of our research was to address this anomaly by investigating AP and endodontic treatment in an adult Kosovar population based on radiographic examination.MethodsThe sample used for this study consisted of randomly selected individuals referred to the University Dentistry Clinical Center of Kosovo in the years 2006-2007. Orthopantomographs of 193 patients were evaluated. The periapical status of all teeth (with the exception of third molars) was examined according to Ørstavik's Periapical Index. The quality of the root canal filling was rated as 'adequate' or 'inadequate' based on whether all canals were filled, the depth of fill relative to the radiographic apex and the quality of compaction (absence/presence of voids). Data were analyzed statistically using the Chi-square test and calculation of odds ratios.ResultsOut of 4131 examined teeth, the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) and endodontic treatment was 12.3% and 2.3%, respectively. Of 95 endodontically-treated teeth, 46.3% were associated with AP. The prevalence of AP increased with age. The prevalence in subjects aged over 60 years old (20.2%) was higher than in other age groups. A statistically significant difference was found for the frequency of endodontically-treated teeth associated with AP in the 40-49 year age group (P < 0.001). Of some concern was the discovery that only 30.5% of the endodontically-treated teeth examined met the criteria of an acceptable root canal filling. Inadequately root-filled teeth were associated with an increased AP risk.ConclusionsThe prevalence of AP and the frequency of endodontically-treated teeth with AP in this Kosovar population are higher than those found in other countries. Inadequate root canal fillings were associated with an increased prevalence of AP.

Prevalence of Chronic Apical Periodontitis Among Patients Referred to the Department of Endodontics at the Kermanshah School of Dentistry (2014–2015)

“…The results of this study indicated that the prevalence of chronic apical periodontitis increased with age so that the risk of this lesion in patients over 59 years old was approximately 11.604 times greater than that of patients < 20 years old (p < 0.001), which is in line with the findings of Dutta et al [13] and Kamberi et al [15].…”

Periapical Status and Quality of Root Canal Obturation in Elderly Population: A Systematic Review

“…16 The ratio between quality of RF teeth and presence of AP showed results with great amplitude. When the frequency of AP in adequate RF teeth was evaluated in comparison with the total number of RF teeth, the range was from 0.1 26 to 41.6%. 23 In inadequate RF teeth with AP, this frequency ranged from 16.8 24 to 58.5%.…”

“…In the evaluation of the periapical status, represented by the presence of AP, the majority of the studies included in this present review 1,9,[16][17][18][19][21][22][23][25][26][27] used the periapical index (PAI) system proposed by Ørstavik et al 28 ( Table 1). …”

“…In the evaluation of the quality of RF, various criteria were used in the selected studies: three studies used the distance of the endodontic filling from the root apex, 16,21,23 three studies used the filling density and its distance from the apex, 17,18,25 three studies defined the parameter as being the presence of filling material in the root canal 1,9,19 four studies preferred criteria proposed by other authors 20,22,26,27 and in one article the authors created their own guidelines 24 ( Table 1). …”

Chronic stress increases bone resorption in apical periodontitis stress and endodontic disease in rats

“…Concerning the origin of periapical lesions, the risk factors seem to be connected to the quality of coronal sealing and the endodontic treatment performed [11][12]. Furthermore, a high prevalence of endodontic disease recurrence is evident in many parts of the world [13][14][15].…”