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Aim: To evaluate the quality of previous root canal treatment (RCT) among patients seeking retreatment in order to determine the actual reason for the failures. Materials and Methods: Survey was conducted between January and March 2018, among the patients seeking endodontic retreatment at the Dental Specialist Center in Najran City, KSA. Fifty patients with complaints to their RCT tooth were randomly selected for the study. All the patients were thoroughly examined clinically and teeth were radiographed. All the examinations were done by the same person. Attempt was made to correlate the presenting signs and symptoms to the quality of the past treatment. A well prepared questionnaire was used to record the details of the clinical and radiographic examination. The data collected was used to evaluate the qualification and competency of the clinician to provide RCT of acceptable international standards. Result: In the clinical part, 54% of cases reported with pain, 30% of intact fillings and sign of failure symptoms after few months from the RCT. In the radiographic part, most of cases presented with good obturation, high percentage of peri-apical radiolucency, overfilled, apical and internal resorption. Upto 6% were registered in cases with presence of broken instrument or perforations. All standard deviations were high. Conclusion: The survey revealed very strong correlation between failures of endodontic treatment (FET) and disregard for the fundamental basics among the clinicians. Proper clinical training in dental schools and continuing dental education programmes would certainly improve the quality of RCT provided to the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adequate knowledge of root canal morphology along with its probable variations is imperative to acquire successful endodontic treatment. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the root canal configuration of maxillary and mandibular first molar using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) among patients in Al-Ahsa region, Saudi Arabia. A total of 377 samples were included, out of which 123 CBCT (I-CAT Vision QTM) scans with intact all first permanent molars were selected in this study and scanned in sagittal, axial, and coronal views by using BlueSkyPlan software. The number of canals in each root and their configuration according to the Vertucci classification system was evaluated. Statistical analysis was analyzed using SPSS version 21 (IBM). Chi-square test was applied to evaluate the association of root canal morphology and mandibular and maxillary first molars with respect to gender. Out of 123 CBCT scans, 59 (48.0%) were males and 64 (52.0%) were females; the mean age was 26.95 ± 10.65 years. The mesiobuccal root of bilateral maxillary first molar had Type-I (87.0%) of Vertucci classification followed by Type-IV (9.8%). Additionally, all mesiobuccal roots (100%) of the left mandibular first molar had Type-I of Vertucci's classification. A significant association has been observed between gender and a number of canals in bilateral maxillary first molars. Females showed a significantly higher prevalence of three-root canal configuration in maxillary first molars of both sides compared four canals found most commonly in males (p = 0.004). This study concluded that the majority of maxillary and mandibular permanent first molars had three roots and three canals with Type-I Vertucci's classification in patients belonging to the Al-Ahsa region of the Saudi Arabia. It was also proved that gender is significantly associated with the number of canals in a bilateral maxillary molar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This CBCT-based study analysed morphometric relationships in Mesio-Buccal (MB) roots of maxillary first molars (MFM). 133 MFM with two MB canals were assessed and classified using Vertucci's classification. MB roots' length and MB1-MB2 canals inter-orifice distances (IOD) were noted. The data were analysed using SPSS software. The most frequently present canal was type IV (59.4%) followed by type II (40.6%). Mean MB roots' length for canals exhibiting type IV was 9.26 ± 0.21 mm and of those exhibiting type II was 12.8 ± 0.42 mm. Statistically significant relationship was found between MB root length and canal type. Mean IOD for type II and type IV canals was 2.4 ± 0.47 and 3.8 ± 0.21 mm, respectively. Statistically significant relationship was found between IOD and canal type. Length of MB root and IOD had a significant association with canal type present in MFM. This knowledge can enhance clinicians' understanding of canal morphology which can increase predictability and success rate of endodontic treatment., (© 2023 Australian Society of Endodontology Inc.)

Balto H, Al Khalifah Sh, Al Mugairin S, Al Deeb M, Al-Madi E. Technical quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students in Saudi Arabia. International Endodontic Journal, 43, 292–300, 2010. Aim To evaluate the technical quality of root fillings performed in the undergraduate clinic of the Dental College, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia and to compare the technical quality of root canal treatment between the 4th- and 5th-year students. Methodology A random sample of 710 records of patients who had received dental treatment by undergraduate students at the College of Dentistry (Malaz University Campus), between the years of 2005–2008, was investigated. The final sample consisted of 550 root filled teeth in 459 patients. For each root filled tooth, at least three periapical radiographs were examined: preoperative, working length determination and postoperative. The length, density and taper of root fillings, as well as the presence of procedural errors, were recorded. ‘Acceptable’ filling quality was defined as having adequate length, density and taper with the absence of any procedural error. Results were evaluated statistically using chi-square test. Results One hundred and twenty-five of 550 root filled teeth (23%) had a root filling that was classified as ‘acceptable’. There was no statistical significant association between the 4th- and 5th-year students in terms of length ( P = 0.134), density ( P = 0.081) and taper ( P = 0.590). Seventy-five (14%) treated teeth had ledges, 40 (7%) had apical transportation and 37 (7%) had apical root perforation. Ledges had significant association with the level of student ( P < 0.0001) and were greater in the cases of 4th-year students (18%) compared to the 5th-year students (8%), whilst root perforations had also significant association with level of students ( P = 0.016) and were more in the 5th-year cases (3%) compared to the 4th-year cases (0.3%). Conclusions The technical quality of root fillings placed by undergraduate dental students was classified as ‘acceptable’ in 23% of cases. There was little difference between 4th- and 5th-year students in the overall quality of root fillings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]