RESTORATIONS AND SURVIVABILITY OF ENDODONTICALLY TREATED TEETH

Introduction. The endodontic outcome is dependent on an efficient endodontic treatment involving good sealing of canals and placement of prompt and appropriate post-endodontic coronal restoration. A study was conducted to evaluate the association of coronal restorations and survivability of endodontically treated teeth in the Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, King Khalid University College of Dentistry, Abha. Materials and methods. All patients with ages above 18 years, who were endodontically treated for permanent molar or premolar teeth by specialists and students in the year 2008, were identified from the clinical records of the hospital. Out of the total 375 cases (involving molar and pre-molars) that had been endodontically treated in the Department, only 123 patients met the inclusion criteria. Further on, the patients selected from past records were recalled after 5 years and examined for: the current status of the previously RCT molar or premolar tooth/teeth that included the presence/absence of that tooth, type of post-RCT restoration (crown, composite, amalgam or GIC), quality of restoration (good, acceptable or poor) and healing stage of the lesion using fresh radiographies. Results and discussion. It was found out that the cases with successful endodontic healing comprised 30 (65.21%) crowned teeth, 19 (48.71%) amalgam restored teeth, 9 (36%) composite restored teeth and 1 (16.6%) GIC restored teeth. Conclusions. Among the various post-endodontic coronal restorations used in the study, crown coverage proved to be beneficial and better as far as the post-endodontic healing of lesion is concerned.