Root-filled teeth with adequate restorations and root canal treatment have better treatment outcomes

Abstract

Medline, Embase, the Cochrane Library, the Wiley online database, four journals (Journal of Endodontics, International Endodontic Journal, Oral Surgery Oral Medicine Oral Pathology Oral Radiology and Endodontology and Endodontics and Dental Traumatology) and the references of identified articles were searched manually. There was no language restriction. Clinical studies that provided sample size, and where success was based on radiographic and/or clinical criteria that evaluated quality of root filling, the quality of coronal restoration and periapical status at least one year after root canal treatment that provided an overall success rate or sufficient data to allow it to be calculated from the raw data were included. Data were collected based on predetermined criteria. Percentages of teeth without apical periodontitis were recorded for each category: adequate root canal treatment (AE); inadequate root canal treatment (IE); adequate restoration (AR); and inadequate restoration (IR). Data were analysed using meta-analysis for odds ratios (ORs). Nine article were included . After adjusting for significant covariates to reduce heterogeneity, the results were combined to obtain pooled estimates of the common OR for the comparison of AR/AE versus AR/IE:-AR/AE versus AR/IE (OR = 2.734; 95%CI, 2.61-2.88; P < .001)AR/AE versus IR/AE (OR = 2.808; 95% CI, 2.64-2.97; P < .001). On the basis of the current best available evidence, the odds for healing of apical periodontitis increase with both adequate root canal treatment and adequate restorative treatment. Although poorer clinical outcomes may be expected with adequate root filling-inadequate coronal restoration and inadequate root filling-adequate coronal restoration, there is no significant difference in the odds of healing between these two combinations.