Frequency, distribution and obturation technique of root canal retreatment among patients attending a teaching dental hospital in Chennai - A retrospective study

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine frequency, distribution and obturation technique of root canal retreatment among patients attending a teaching dental hospital in Chennai from June 2019 to March 2020. Three hundred seventy case records of endodontic retreatment were obtained, 262 met inclusion criteria. Patients above 18 years of age, patients who visited from June 2019 to March 2020 and patients who have already finished root canal treatment and had complaints of pain were included. Data were tabulated into excel sheets under the headings age, gender, teeth no, obturation technique. Then data were analyzed using SPSS software (23.0). The statistical analysis of the data was performed using chi-square test. Out of the 262 case sheets analysed, 64.9% were male and 35.1% were female. Most commonly affected age group was 18-30 years (38.5%), the least affected age group was above 60 years (6.9%). Most commonly affected teeth were 11,21 (26%,11.8%), least commonly involved were 17,27,32,33 (0.4% - 0.8%). Matched taper single cone technique was most commonly used (57.6%) followed by lateral compaction (40.5%), least commonly preferred technique was warm vertical compaction (1.9%). Overall results of the study are statistically not significant (P>0.05). Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that the prevalence of retreatment cases was high in upper anterior teeth followed by lower posterior. Whereas the association of retreatment cases was least in upper posterior and lower left lateral and canines. Incidence of retreatment cases in relation to root canal treated teeth was higher in male among the 18 - 30 year's age group.