Abstract
Objective. The purpose of this study was to use survival analysis to evaluate the long-term
treatment outcome of first-time, nonsurgical root canal therapy performed in a dental
teaching hospital and to identify factors that might affect that outcome. Study Design. One-tenth of all teeth treated between 1989 and 1994 were sampled. Patients were
invited to return for a recall and were examined both clinically and radiographically.
Any teeth that had been extracted or retreated or that were associated with a periapical
radiolucency or presented with clinical signs and symptoms were deemed to have failed.
An adjusted date of failure was calculated in the survival analysis by means of the
Kaplan-Meier method. Ten covariables were further analyzed with the Cox regression
model by using a backward stepwise regression method. Results. Of 550 sampled teeth, 251 were examined. The mean observation period was 74 months.
The failure rate was 44% (n = 111), with a median survival time of 113 months (mean,
91 months). Use of the Cox Regression model revealed that tooth type was significant
in affecting the survival time of the treatment. Radiographic presence of voids in
the apical and middle thirds of root canal fillings was associated with a significantly
lower mean survival time than the presence of voids found in the coronal third or
no void at all. The use of a calcium hydroxide dressing after initial treatment was
associated with a longer survival time than failure to use medication or dressing
with Ledermix alone. Conclusion. Simple calculation of percentages did not provide sufficient information on the treatment
prognosis. The survival of first-time root canal therapy was significantly influenced
by the tooth type, radiographic location of voids in the root canal filling, and the
intracanal medicament used. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2002;93:596-604)
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 30,
2001
Received in revised form:
May 25,
2001
Received:
April 12,
2001
Footnotes
*Partly funded by a research grant of the University of Hong Kong (CRCG grant no. 10201250).
**Reprint requests: Dr Gary S. P. Cheung Faculty of Dentistry 3/F, Prince Philip Dental Hospital 34 Hospital Road Hong Kong [email protected]
Identification
Copyright
© 2002 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
