Number Of Root-filled Teeth Research Articles

Relationship between Apical Periodontitis and Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Events: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: Both apical periodontitis (AP) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACVD), the main cause of cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of AP and the oral inflammatory burden in control subjects and patients suffering cardiovascular events, analyzing the possible association between AP and the oral inflammatory burden with MetS. Materials and Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 83 patients suffering a cardiovascular event were recruited in the study group (SG), and 48 patients without cardiovascular events were included in the control group (CG). Periapical index (PAI) was used to diagnose AP, and total dental index (TDI) was used to assess the total oral inflammatory burden. Diagnosis of MetS was made by meeting three or more American Heart Association Scientific Statement components. Results: In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the number of teeth with AP (OR = 2.3; 95% C.I. = 1.3–4.3; p = 0.006) and TDI scores (OR = 1.5; 95% C.I. = 1.2–1.9; p = 0.001), significantly correlated with cardiovascular events. MetS was strongly associated (OR = 18.0; 95% C.I. = 6.5–49.7; p = 0000) with cardiovascular events. Higher TDI scores were significantly associated with MetS (OR = 1.3; 95% C.I. = 1.1–1.6; p = 0.003. Neither the number of root-filled teeth (RFT) (OR = 0.9; 95% C.I. = 0.6–1.3; p = 0.61) nor the number of teeth with apical periodontitis (OR = 1.1; 95% C.I. = 0.8–1.7; p = 0.49) were associated with MetS. Conclusions: Apical periodontitis is significantly associated with cardiovascular events. Total oral inflammatory burden assessed by TDI, but not AP alone, is associated with MetS.

Socio-economic and health status as a predictor of apical periodontitis in adult patients in Croatia.

A few studies focused on determinants of apical periodontitis other than technical or biological factors. This research aimed to investigate to what extent socio-economic and health status can predict apical periodontitis in adult patients. The cross-sectional study included 599 adult patients. Medical history, health habits and socio-economic status of each participant were recorded using a self-administered structured questionnaire. For caries detection, the World Health Organization diagnostic thresholds were used, and oral hygiene level was estimated using plaque index. Periapical index system was used to analyse the periapical status of all teeth. Dental, socio-economic and health-related variables were tested against dependent variable (periapical disease ratio) in a multiple linear regression analysis. Dental independent variables explained 71.7% of the observed variation in periapical disease ratio (R2 =0.717; p<0.001). Periapical disease ratio increased with the increase in number of carious teeth, plaque index and number of root-filled teeth, but also with decrease in number of coronal fillings (all p<0.001). Socio-economic and health-related variables accounted for lower portion of variability, 15.5% and 12.9%, respectively (both p<0.001). Dental variables are more important predictors of periapical status than socio-economic and health-related variables.

Radiolucent periapical lesions and bone mineral density in post‐menopausal women

To investigate the relationship between radiolucent periapical lesions and bone mineral density in post-menopausal women. Seventy-five post-menopausal women were recruited for the study. Bone mineral density was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Three groups were established: healthy bone group, osteopenic group and osteoporotic group. Periapical radiolucencies were diagnosed on the basis of examination of digital panoramic radiographs. Statistical analysis was carried out using anova and chi-squared tests, and logistic regression analysis. In both the osteopenic and osteoporotic groups, 25% of women showed at least one periapical radiolucency, whereas this was only 7.4% in the healthy bone group (odds ratio = 4.2; p = 0.061). After multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusting for covariates (age, number of teeth, number of root-filled teeth and number of teeth with coronal restorations), a marginally significant association was evident between bone mineral density and the presence of periapical radiolucencies (odds ratio = 1.9; CI 95% = 1.0-3.8; p = 0.050). After adjusting for covariates, low bone mineral density is marginally associated with a higher frequency of radiolucent periapical lesions.

Periapical and Endodontic Status of Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Catalonia, Spain: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate radiographically the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) and endodontic treatment in a sample of adult type II diabetic patients and control subjects. Methods In a cross-sectional study, the radiographic records of 50 adult patients reporting a history of well-controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) (study group) and 50 age- and sex-matched subjects who reported no history of DM (control group) were examined. Periapical status of all teeth was assessed using the periapical index score. Results The average number of teeth per patient in the diabetic and control groups was 21.9 and 24.6 teeth, respectively ( P = .012). AP in one or more teeth was found in 37 diabetic patients (74%) and in 21 control subjects (42%) (odds ratio = 3.9, P = .002). One or more root-filled teeth were found in 35 (70%) and 25 (50%) of diabetic and control subjects, respectively (odds ratio = 2.3, P = .043). Among diabetic patients with root-filled teeth, 16 (46%) had AP affecting at least one treated tooth. Among controls with root-filled teeth, 6 (24%) had AP affecting at least one treated tooth ( P > .05). Adjusting for teeth number, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that periapical status (odds ratio = 3.3, P = .0071) and the number of root-filled teeth (odds ratio = 1.7; P = .0035) were significantly associated with diabetic status. Conclusions The results showed that in adult patients, type 2 DM is significantly associated with an increased prevalence of AP and endodontic treatment.

Frequency of root‐filled teeth and prevalence of apical periodontitis in an adult Turkish population

To report the frequency and distribution of root-filled teeth as well as the prevalence of apical periodontitis in an adult population in Turkey. Digital panoramic radiographs of 1000 patients who were examined at the Baskent University Faculty of Dentistry between December 2004 and May 2005 were evaluated. Patients ageing <15 years and those with less than nine remaining teeth were excluded. The coronal and periapical status of all the teeth with the exception of third molars was examined according to the criteria proposed by De Moor et al. (2000). Statistical analysis was performed with the Rao and Scott adjusted chi-square test for the comparison of clustered binary data. In all, 24 433 teeth were examined. A total of 346 teeth (1.4%) had radiographic signs of apical periodontitis, and 812 were root filled (3.3%). Of the 812 root-filled teeth, 148 (18.2%) had apical periodontitis. Of the 23,621 nonroot-filled teeth, 198 (0.8%) had apical periodontitis. The number of root-filled teeth in male subjects was significantly less than that in female subjects (P < 0.001), but the presence of apical periodontitis in male subjects was significantly higher than that in female subjects (P < 0.05). * The prevalence of apical periodontitis and the frequency of root-filled teeth with apical periodontitis were lower than in comparable populations in other countries. * The number of root-filled teeth was comparable to that found in other epidemiologic studies.

Association between intra-radicular posts and periapical lesions in endodontically treated teeth

Introduction:A significant number of endodontically treated teeth restored with posts have associated periapical lesions, and several authors have discussed the probable causes of the development of these. Attention has been focused on restorative procedures performed after endodontic treatment and their association with the prognosis of endodontic therapy because a number of root-filled teeth will require post- and core-retained restorations.Purpose:The purpose of this study was to evaluate, by examination of periapical radiographs, whether the placement of intra-radicular posts in endodontically treated teeth may act as a risk factor for development of periapical lesions.Material and Methods:This case-control study analyzed periapical radiographs of 72 endodontically treated teeth with coronal restorations. All radiographs were obtained from a single private practice. Specimens were assigned to 2 groups: Group 1 (control) was composed of teeth without periapical lesions and Group 2 (case) was composed of teeth with periapical lesions. The number of teeth with and without posts in each group was recorded. Three calibrated examiners analyzed the radiographs visually under X4 magnification.Results:In Group 1, 28 (65.1%) out of 43 teeth were restored with posts. In Group 2, 24 (82.8%) out of 29 teeth had intra-radicular posts. The interpretation of chi-square test showed that these percentages were not significantly different (x2=2.687; p=0.101). Odds ratio was 2.571 (0.8158.118), which indicates that there was no statistically significant association between periapical lesions and posts.Conclusion:Intra-radicular posts placed in endodontically treated teeth were not a significant risk factor for development of periapical lesions in the practice where the cohort of patients was treated.

Socio-economic risk indicators for apical periodontitis

Objective. The aim of this study was to reveal possible socio-economic risk indicators for apical periodontitis. Material and Methods. In 1992–93 a representative sample of women in Göteborg, Sweden, aged 38–84 years, participated in a medical and dental survey (n=981) which included dental and medical examinations and dental radiographic examination (OP). The dependent variable was apical periodontitis (AP = 0, AP > 0). The independent variables were age, number of teeth, number of restored teeth, number of root-filled teeth, number of teeth with carious lesions, satisfactory masticatory function, and dental esthetics as crude measures of self-reported dental health, dental anxiety, time elapsed since last visit to a dental office, regular dental visiting habits, smoking, alcohol habits, and marital status. A subjective evaluation of economy, health and life situation (acceptable or poor) was accounted for as socio-economic variables. The oldest age group, women born 1908, and edentulous individuals were omitted, leaving 844 subjects for analysis. Statistical analysis included multivariate logistic regression, chi-squared test, and independent t-test for comparison of group characteristics (AP = 0 vs AP > 0). Results. For socio-economic variables there was a significant association between acceptable health and apical periodontitis (OR = 1.72 (CI = 1.09–2.70)). For oral-related variables, root-filled teeth (OR = 1.17 (CI = 1.10–1.23)) and teeth with carious lesions (OR = 1.48 (CI = 1.19–1.85)) were predictive of apical periodontitis. Conclusions. In the present study, socio-economic variables and dental visiting habits did not appear to have obvious implications for periapical health, whereas root-filled teeth and carious lesions were associated with apical periodontitis.

Dealing with highly anxious dental patients

Objective To assess differences among highly anxious dental patients assigned to different treatment modes (ie behavioural management (BM), nitrous oxide sedation (NOS), intravenous sedation (IVS)). Patients were compared with regard to psychological and dental variables before treatment (eg number of decayed teeth), and dental variables after treatment (eg number of fillings made). Design Dentists experienced in the treatment of highly anxious patients allocated patients to a treatment mode based upon their clinical judgement. Setting Centre for Special Dental Care, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Subjects 211 patients from this dental fear clinic. Measures General psychopathology, as measured by the Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), and dental anxiety (DAS, S-DAI, 10-point scale) were measured prior to treatment. From the panoramic radiograph the following pre-treatment dental variables were assessed: number of teeth, number of decayed teeth, number of retained roots, and number of root-filled teeth. After treatment, number of fillings, extractions, endodontically treated elements, number of visits, and treatment duration, were determined from the patients' records. Results Of the 144 patients who received dental treatment at the clinic, 46.5% was treated using a BM approach, 27.8% with NOS, 22.9% with IVS, and 2.8% under GA. No differences among the treatment groups were found with regard to SCL-90 and dental anxiety. The results showed that patients in the IVS group had statistically significant more decayed teeth than patients in the BM group. Furthermore, more fillings were made in the IVS group than in the BM group. Conclusion Since it appeared possible to treat a large proportion of patients by BM alone, training dentists in the application of psychological methods for the treatment of anxious patients should be stimulated. In addition, future research should seek for variables that, besides oral health, are better able to discriminate between groups of highly anxious patients than measures of dental anxiety and psychopathology.