Purpose:
To investigate if amalgam retrofills are more successful short term (1-2yr) vs. long term.
Materials/Methods:
N=104 teeth
–Exclusion: cases failed from other than amalgam retrofill.
-teeth needed to exhibit some healing (prior to failure if applicable).
-96 patients contacts who had had an apicoectomy before 1981 (>10yr since apico); records obtained.
–success: tooth asymptomatic and functional, radiographically, PDL healing or PA scar evident.
-average 15.1yr recall.
Results:
-57.7% of teeth successful, 42.3% determined failures.
Clinical Significance:
Surgical endodontic success with amalgam appears mediocre and new retrofill materials need to be investigated.