The status of vital abutment teeth three years after prosthodontic treatment

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to radiographically evaluate the periapical status of vital teeth that serve as abutments to fixed metal ceramic dental prostheses (FDP) three years after undergraduate dental students performed the treatment. Material and Methods: The study sample consisted of 395 vital and intact teeth prior to the permanent cementation of FDP of 44 female and 23 male patients with a mean age of 50.8±11.8 years. The type of FDP and the type of teeth, as well as the age and gender of the patients, were recorded. Patient satisfaction with the treatment was also determined. Each tooth was examined on periapical radiographs and scored using the periapical index (PAI) to determine the periapical status. Results: Interobserver agreement between readings was 0.87. Fifty-six patients (83.5%) were satisfied with their treatment. The percentage of apical periodontitis was found to be the least in mandibular incisors (3.4%, p<0.05). Apical periodontitis was more frequently observed in maxillary teeth than in mandibular teeth (20% and 10.6%, respectively; p<0.05). Conclusions: Although patients were generally satisfied with the treatment they received, and FDP treatment performed by undergraduate students appears to be satisfactory, more emphasis must be placed on the supervision of students to obtain better results.