EVALUATION OF PERIAPICAL AREA IN ROOT-FILLED TEETH WITH PERIAPICAL LESIONS: A CBCT STUDY

The aim of this study is to investigate the possibilities of diagnosis and post-treatment monitoring of chronic periapical lesions. Materials and method. The cross-sectional study included 151 patients (gender: 52 males, 99 females; mean age 48.36 +/- 15.708 yrs.) with 391 root-filled teeth (mean follow-up of 5.25 +/- 1.759 yrs.). Clinical examination and radiographic assessment of the root and its periapical area were performed to evaluate its status by PAI-CBCT score. Patients were included in the treatment within the Clinical Education Base "M. Kogalniceanu" of the Faculty of Dentistry, U.M. F. "Grigore T.Popa" Iasi. CBCT images were obtained using PaX-Uni3D (TVAPANO04, VATECH). The dimensions of periapical lesions in coronal-apical, mesial-distal and buccal-oral sections were measured using the Ez3D 2009 Plus software application. CBCT parameters were set for 20 second exposure time, 85 kV, 5mA. The mean values of the CBCT-PAI index were recorded. Results. Apical periodontitis was diagnosed in 181 endodontically treated teeth, corresponding to a 46,3% prevalence of periapical lesions. The distribution of CBCT-PAI indices was as follows: CBCT-PAI 3 40%, followed by CBCT-PAI 2 40%, CBCT-PAI 4 20%, and CBCT-PAI 5 20%. Conclusion. The most frequent CBCT-PAI score was 3 recorded in 40% of the root-filled teeth. CBCT examination and CBCT-PAI index are precise, reliable and reproducible tools in the evaluation of the post-treatment evolution of the chronic periapical lesions.