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Introduction: The objective of this long-term study was to evaluate radiographic healing in cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) scans taken 1 and 5 years after apical surgery., Methods: In the context of a prospective clinical study, postsurgical CBCT scans were taken 1 and 5 years after apical surgery. Three calibrated observers independently assessed buccolingual CBCT images oriented along the longitudinal axis of the treated roots. Radiographic periapical healing was categorized as "fully, partially, or not healed" for each of the following study parameters: the resection plane, the cortical plate, the apical area, and the overall bone healing. The analysis included the interobserver agreement (Fleiss kappa values), the comparison of 5- and 1-year ratings, and the changes of healing categories from 1-5 years (McNemar-Bowker tests). Data were analyzed statistically for the detection of significant differences., Results: CBCT images of 41 teeth (in 41 patients) with 47 treated roots were evaluated. At 5 years, all studied parameters had higher rates of fully healed cases compared with the rate at 1 year. The resection plane and apical area parameters each were judged in 72.3% as fully healed at 5 years, whereas the cortical plate and overall bone healing parameters showed clearly lower fully healed rates (42.6% and 38.3%, respectively). Fully healed cases at 1 year remained so at 5 years in 87.5%-100% depending on the study parameter., Conclusions: This 5-year CBCT follow-up study of apical surgery showed a marked improvement of radiographic healing from 1-5 years but to a varying degree regarding the different study parameters. Although new hard tissue formation at the resection plane and within the former apical defect was advanced in most cases at 5 years, the reestablishment of the cortical bone plate clearly lagged behind., (Copyright © 2019 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Conventional 2-dimensional radiography uses defined criteria for outcome assessment of apical surgery. However, these radiographic healing criteria are not applicable for 3-dimensional radiography. The present study evaluated the repeatability and reproducibility of new cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT)-based healing criteria for the judgment of periapical healing 1 year after apical surgery., Methods: CBCT scans taken 1 year after apical surgery (61 roots of 54 teeth in 54 patients, mean age = 54.4 years) were evaluated by 3 blinded and calibrated observers using 4 different indices. Reformatted buccolingual CBCT sections through the longitudinal axis of the treated roots were analyzed. Radiographic healing was assessed at the resection plane (R index), within the apical area (A index), of the cortical plate (C index), and regarding a combined apical-cortical area (B index). All readings were performed twice to calculate the intraobserver agreement (repeatability). Second-time readings were used for analyzing the interobserver agreement (reproducibility). Various statistical tests (Cohen, kappa, Fisher, and Spearman) were performed to measure the intra- and interobserver concurrence, the variability of score ratios, and the correlation of indices., Results: For all indices, the rates of identical first- and second-time scores were always higher than 80% (intraobserver Cohen κ values ranging from 0.793 to 0.963). The B index (94.0%) showed the highest intraobserver agreement. Regarding interobserver agreement, the highest rate was found for the B index (72.1%). The Fleiss' κ values for R and B indices exhibited substantial agreement (0.626 and 0.717, respectively), whereas the values for A and C indices showed moderate agreement (0.561 and 0.573, respectively). The Spearman correlation coefficients for R, A, C, and B indices all exhibited a moderate to very strong correlation with the highest correlation found between C and B indices (rs = 0.8069)., Conclusions: All indices showed an excellent intraobserver agreement (repeatability). With regard to interobserver agreement (reproducibility), the B index (healing of apical and cortical defects combined) and the R index (healing on the resection plane) showed substantial congruence and thus are to be recommended in future studies when using buccolingual CBCT sections for radiographic outcome assessment of apical surgery., (Copyright © 2016 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Endodontic surgery aims at the resolution of a periapical inflammatory process by surgical access followed by enucleation of the lesion and root-end filling to curb any potentially noxious agent within the physical confines of the affected root. Guided bone regeneration could be associated to endodontic surgery aiming to enhance periradicular tissue regeneration. The objective of this paper was to review the scientific literature about guided bone regeneration in endodontic surgery, evaluating the effects on periapical lesion healing process. The included articles are classified considering the anatomical characteristics of the lesion. Fourteen articles were included in the review after abstract and title selection. Eight articles were on studies on lesions affecting only the periapical region (three about through-and-through lesions) while six were about the treatment of apico-marginal lesions. On the basis of the currently available literature, there is a low scientific evidence of a benefit related. to the use of guided bone regeneration procedure in endodontic surgery.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the concordance of 2- and 3-dimensional radiography and histopathology in the diagnosis of periapical lesions., Methods: Patients were consecutively enrolled in this study provided that preoperative periapical radiography (PR) and cone-beam computed tomographic imaging of the tooth to be treated with apical surgery were performed. The periapical lesional tissue was histologically analyzed by 2 blinded examiners. The final histologic diagnosis was compared with the radiographic assessments of 4 blinded observers. The initial study material included 62 teeth in the same number of patients., Results: Four lesions had to be excluded during processing, resulting in a final number of 58 evaluated cases (31 women and 27 men, mean age = 55 years). The final histologic diagnosis of the periapical lesions included 55 granulomas (94.8%) and 3 cysts (5.2%). Histologic analysis of the tissue samples from the apical lesions exhibited an almost perfect agreement between the 2 experienced investigators with an overall agreement of 94.83% (kappa = 0.8011). Radiographic assessment overestimated cysts by 28.4% (cone-beam computed tomographic imaging) and 20.7% (periapical radiography), respectively. Comparing the correlation of the radiographic diagnosis of 4 observers with the final histologic diagnosis, 2-dimensional (kappa = 0.104) and 3-dimensional imaging (kappa = 0.111) provided only minimum agreement., Conclusions: To establish a final diagnosis of an apical radiolucency, the tissue specimen should be evaluated histologically and specified as a granuloma (with/without epithelium) or a cyst. Analysis of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional radiographic images alike results only in a tentative diagnosis that should be confirmed with biopsy., (Copyright © 2015 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: If a surgical approach is chosen to treat a multirooted tooth affected by persistent periapical pathosis, usually only the affected roots are operated on. The present study assessed the periapical status of the nonoperated root 5 years after apical surgery of the other root in mandibular molars., Methods: Patients treated with apical surgery of mandibular molars with a follow-up of 5 years were selected. Patient-related and clinical parameters (sex, age, smoking, symptoms, and signs of infection) before surgery were recorded. Preoperative intraoral periapical radiographs and radiographs 5 years after surgery were examined. The following data were collected: tooth, operated root, type and quality of the coronal restoration, marginal bone level, length and homogeneity of the root canal filling, presence of a post/screw, periapical index (PAI) of each root, and radiographic healing of the operated root. The presence of apical pathosis of the nonoperated root was analyzed statistically in relation to the recorded variables., Results: Thirty-seven patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Signs of periapical pathosis in the nonoperated root 5 years after surgery (PAI ≥ 3) could be observed in only 3 cases (8.1%). Therefore, statistical analysis in relation to the variables was not possible. The PAI of the nonoperated root before surgery had a weak correlation with signs of apical pathosis 5 years after surgery., Conclusions: Nonoperated roots rarely developed signs of new apical pathosis 5 years after apical surgery of the other root in mandibular molars. It appears reasonable to resect and fill only roots with a radiographically evident periapical lesion., (Copyright © 2015 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To assess pain and swelling in the first 7 days after periapical surgery and their relationship with the agent used for bleeding control., Study Design: A prospective study was conducted between October 2006 and March 2009. Patients subjected to root surgery, who completed the questionnaire and who consented to the postoperative instructions were included in the study. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the hemostatic agent used: A) gauze impregnated with anesthetic solution with vasoconstrictor; or B) aluminum chloride. The patients were administered a questionnaire, and were asked to record the severity of their pain and swelling on a plain horizontal visual analog scale (VAS). Data were recorded by the patients on the first 7 postoperative days. In addition, the patients were asked to record analgesic consumption., Results: A total of 76 questionnaires (34 in group A and 42 in group B) were taken to be correctly completed. Pain was reported to be most intense two hours after surgery. At this point 52.6% of the patients had no pain. Seventy-five percent of the patients consumed analgesics in the first 24 hours. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the intensity of pain or in the consumption of analgesics. Swelling reached its maximum peak on the second day; at this point, 60.6% of the patients suffered mild or moderate swelling. The Expasyl group showed significantly greater swelling than the gauzes group., Conclusion: The type of hemostatic agent used did not influence either the degree of pain or the need for analgesia among the patients in this study. However, the patients belonging to the Expasyl group suffered greater swelling than the patients treated with gauzes impregnated with anesthetic solution with vasoconstrictor.

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the detectability and dimensions of periapical lesions, the relationship of the mandibular canal to the roots of the respective teeth, and the dimension of the buccal bone by using limited cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in comparison to conventional periapical (PA) radiographs for evaluation of mandibular molars before apical surgery., Methods: The study comprised 38 molars with 75 roots. The type of PA lesion as diagnosed on PA radiographs was compared with the type of lesion seen on sagittal and coronal CBCT sections. The distances of the apices of the first mandibular molars and basal border of the PA lesion to the coronal lining of the mandibular canal were assessed with PA radiographs and corresponding sagittal and coronal CBCT images. Furthermore, coronal CBCT images were used to measure the distance from the apices to the buccal bone surface and the corresponding width of the cortical bone plate., Results: Of 58 detected PA lesions, 15 (25.9%) lesions diagnosed with sagittal CBCT slices were missed with PA radiography. The distance between the apices and the upper border of the mandibular canal was only measurable in 24 of 68 radiographs (35.3%) by using PA images. The cortical bone wall had a mean thickness of 1.7 mm, whereas the total buccal bone wall (cortical and spongious) measured 5.3 mm on average., Conclusions: The present study highlights the advantages of using limited CBCT for treatment planning in mandibular molars before apical surgery., (Copyright © 2011 American Association of Endodontists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this was to evaluate the histology of periapical lesions in teeth treated with periapical surgery. After root-end resection, the root tip was removed together with the periapical pathological tissue. Histologic sectioning was performed on calcified specimens embedded in methylmethacrylate (MMA) and on demineralized specimens embedded in LR White (Fluka, Buchs, Switzerland). The samples were evaluated with light and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The histologic findings were classified into periapical abscesses, granulomas, or cystic lesions (true or pocket cysts). The final material comprised 70% granulomas, 23% cysts and 5% abscesses, 1% scar tissues, and 1% keratocysts. Six of 125 samples could not be used. The cystic lesions could not be subdivided into pocket or true cysts. All cysts had an epithelium-lined cavity, two of them with cilia-lined epithelium. These results show the high incidence of periapical granulomas among periapical lesions obtained during apical surgery. Periapical abscesses were a rare occasion. The histologic findings from samples obtained during apical surgery may differ from findings obtained by teeth extractions. A determination between pocket and true apical cysts is hardly possible when collecting samples by apical surgery.

Objectives: To evaluate pain and swelling during the first week after periapical surgery and its relation to patient age, gender, oral hygiene, and smoking., Study Design: One hundred two patients (31 men and 71 women) with a mean age of 40.2 years underwent periapical surgery. Age, gender, and oral hygiene and cigarette smoking before and during the postoperative course were noted. Pain and swelling scores were recorded on a descriptive 4-point scale at 2, 6, and 12 hours after surgery, and each day thereafter for 1 week. The data were statistically evaluated for significant differences., Results: The highest intensity of pain occurred during the first 48 hours, and swelling peaked on the second postoperative day. Patient age and gender had no significant effect on postoperative symptoms (P > .05). Patients with poor oral hygiene before surgery presented greater pain and swelling during the first postsurgical hours, and smokers before surgery also suffered more pain. The number of cigarettes smoked in the postoperative period and oral hygiene after surgery had no effect on pain or inflammation (P > .05)., Conclusions: Periapical surgery caused little pain and moderate swelling during the first 2 days after the intervention; these findings were more distinct in patients with poor oral hygiene before surgery and in smokers.

The two objectives of the present study were: to assess the healing after periradicular surgery using the Periotest device, and to compare the recorded Periotest values with the healing category determined after a one-year follow-up using radiographic and clinical criteria. In 43 patients with periradicular surgery, Periotest values could be recorded pre- and postoperatively, as well as after six and twelve months. Cases with a successful healing, as determined at the one-year follow-up, demonstrated a continuous decrease of the Periotest values over time, whereas one-year failures showed increasing Periotest values over the study period. In control teeth, the Periotest values remained unchanged for the whole study period. It appears that the Periotest measurements correlate with the postoperative healing mode following periradicular surgery, and therefore, allow an additional assessment of the healing outcome.

Periradicular surgery has become an established treatment option in endodontic surgery. The major objective of this surgery is to obtain periradicular tissue regeneration, including the formation of a new attachment apparatus, by exclusion of any potentially noxious agent within the physical confines of the affected root. However, in a substantial number of cases, the endodontic lesion has a concomitant marginal periodontal lesion that may complicate the healing success. In periodontology, the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) principle using a barrier membrane has been extensively studied and successfully used, and thus may become an adjunct in endodontic surgery. This article presents a classification system of endodontic and periodontal lesions with respect to the application of the membrane technique and reviews the pertinent literature based upon this classification system.

The introduction of microinstruments for root-end cavity preparation has clearly improved the surgical technique in periradicular surgery with apicectomy. The new generation of sonic and ultrasonic root-end preparation devices, usually termed 'retrotips', has simplified the preparation of a sufficiently deep cavity that follows the original path of the root canal. The present paper describes the use of a new set of diamond-surfaced retrotips driven by a sonic handpiece. For clinical evaluation a prospective study was carried out, with assessment of pre-, intra- and postoperative data in 50 teeth (43 patients). This paper analyses: (i) the applicability of the new retrotips; (ii) the quality of the root-end filling assessed radiographically; (iii) the immediate postoperative course. Access with the retrotips to the resected root-end was found to be excellent in 80% of the treated teeth. The postoperative radiographs showed a root-end filling of at least 3 mm in 70% of the resected teeth. Healing was uneventful in all cases and most patients presented without any symptoms after 5 days and 10 days. The long-term treatment outcome will be reported in a future paper.

Aim: (1) To visually assess scarring of the gingiva and alveolar mucosa 1 year following apical surgery in the aesthetic zone; and (2) to evaluate whether scarring correlated with patient-related or surgical parameters. Material and methods: The material included 72 cases in the anterior maxilla. Three observers, who were blinded to the incision and flap design, independently assessed scar formation of the soft tissues. Each observer determined a pretreatment and a 1-year follow-up score of scarring, and mean changes were calculated. Results: With regard to the gingiva, the type of incision had a significant ( P = 0.0013) influence on scar formation; that is, submarginal incisions and papilla-saving incisions produced more scarring than intrasulcular and papilla-base incisions. Scarring of the alveolar mucosa was significantly ( P = 0.0108) influenced by the type of surgery (first-time vs. re-surgery) and by gender ( P = 0.0496); that is, less scar formation of the alveolar mucosa was observed in re-surgery than in first-time cases as well as in male compared with female patients. Conclusions: Scar formation of the gingiva appeared to be influenced by the incision technique and use of antibiotics, whereas scar formation of the alveolar mucosa was correlated with gender and type of surgery. Possible scar formation should be discussed with the patient before surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]