Healing following root-end surgery, periapical radiographs vs CBCT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Comparing periapical healing and prognostic factors following root-end surgery determined by periapical radiographs versus Cone Beam Computed Tomography
IRAS ID
194791
Contact name
Yuan-Ling Ng
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 4 months, 4 days
Research summary
“Apical periodontitis” is an inflammatory process around the root-end, which is caused by bacteria present within a hollow space inside the tooth, the root canal system (RC). The body’s defence reacts by removing bone around the root-end to create space for defence cells to accumulate. This space/disease process is seen as a “black shadow” on a radiograph. Root canal treatment is the first line of management of this disease which aims to eliminate the bacteria from the RC, but it does not carry a 100% success rate. Management of failure includes a surgical approach which involves directly removing the inflammatory tissue followed by resection of the root tip. Healing is subsequently monitored on an annual basis; a case is deemed as healed once the “black shadow” is no longer present, which suggests the bone has reformed.
Periapical radiographs (DPA) are routinely used to assess healing. This method however has many limitations; it provides only a 2-dimensional representation, making it difficult to assess the bone around the root-end especially if there are other anatomical structures overlying the area of interest. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) offers the advantage of providing a 3-dimensional image of the tooth and surrounding bone, which would allow a more accurate assessment on the healing of bone regeneration.
This study will involve examining patients who have undergone root-end surgery using DPA’s, and selecting the appropriate patients to have a further assessment with CBCT. This will allow us to compare healing of the bone around the root-end using the two radiographic techniques.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/0688
Date of REC Opinion
8 May 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion