Underfilled Root Canal as a Factor Affecting the Periapical Status

Pulp diseases treatment may lead to complications, such as the development of apical periodontitis registered with the help of X-ray examination. At the same time, a dentist might provide endodontic treatment associated with apical periodontitis in case there are relevant X-ray changes. In both cases, the periapical status follow-up is required for causality assessment. CBCT data of 2915 endodontically treated teeth were studied assessing the distance from the X-ray root apex to the root filling, as well as assessing the periapical status and tracing the relation between those. It is least probable to detect periapical changes if the length of the root canal filling is 0-1 mm from the X-ray apex, more probable within the length of 1-2 mm, and most probable within the level of over 1 mm and 2 mm, correspondingly. An individual approach excludes the strategy of ‘indication — contra-indication’ related to the length of the root canal filling showing no ground to assess it as a success criterion for endodontic treatment or as an indication for retreatment regardless of the clinical case. In many situations, if there are no clinical signs of unsuccessful endodontic treatment, the periapical tissues follow-up strategy is well-grounded.