Summary:
•Purpose: to document and analyze macro- and microfindings detected with endoscopic inspection at the cut root face after root-end resection during apical surgery.
•n: 138 teeth with 168 treated roots in 114 patients undergoing apical surgery.
•Materials/Methods:
•Roots were resected approximately 3 mm from apex. Staining of the area with methylene blue, the cut root face was inspected using a rigid endoscope.
•The following primary study parameters were assessed:
Macrofindings: number of canals\root and presence of isthmus per root. Microfindings: presence and location of a craze line, crack, gap & frosted dentine Fig.1.
•Microfindings were correlated with secondary study parameters, i.e. age, tooth type & presence/absence of post.
Most highlighted Results:
1. The teeth most often included were mandibular first molars with M root most frequently assessed.
2.The overall presence of an isthmus in posterior teeth including all premolar & molar roots was 44% (highest frequency seen in M roots of mandibular 1st molars 88.5%)
3.Overall, (9.5%) had a craze line or crack majority were located in B segment
4.Frosted dentine was observed in 80% of roots most often in B segment . 5.Gaps were found in 83.3% mostly found in the B segment.
6.The age groups and the presence or absence of a post/screw did not sig influence the findings.
7.Roots of premolars had sig more craze lines/ cracks than anteriors & molars. With regard to frosted dentine, roots of premolars & molars were sig more frequently affected than of anteriors.
Clinical significance:
Multiple canals per root were mainly found in premolars and molars, but not exclusively. Mesial roots of mandibular first molars had the highest frequency of a canal isthmus. ‘gap’ was the most frequently seen anomaly cracks and craze line were infrequent findings.
