EFFECTIVENESS OF APICOECTOMY FOLLOWING FAILED ROOT CANAL THERAPY: A PROSPECTIVE CLINICAL STUDY
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Keywords
Apicoectomy, failed root canal therapy, periapical surgery, endodontic surgery, clinical effectiveness.
Abstract
Background: Failure of root canal therapy (RCT) remains a clinical challenge, often presenting with persistent periapical pathology or symptoms despite adequate nonsurgical treatment. Apicoectomy, a form of endodontic microsurgery, is frequently indicated when orthograde retreatment is not feasible or has failed.
Objective: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic effectiveness of apicoectomy in teeth with failed root canal therapy through a prospective clinical study design.
Methods: This prospective study included patients presenting with failed RCT requiring surgical intervention. Standardized apicoectomy procedures were performed, including apical resection, curettage of periapical pathology, and retrograde filling. Patients were followed at regular intervals, and outcomes were assessed clinically and radiographically using predefined success criteria.
Results: The majority of treated teeth demonstrated favorable healing with resolution of symptoms and progressive radiographic bone regeneration over the follow‑up period. A gradual decline in success rate was observed with increasing follow‑up duration, though most teeth remained clinically functional.
Conclusion: Apicoectomy is an effective treatment option for managing failed root canal therapy, providing satisfactory clinical and radiographic outcomes and allowing preservation of the natural tooth when nonsurgical retreatment is unsuccessful or impractical.
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
All articles published in JPTCP are licensed under Copyright Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Mehwish Sabir
MPhil Scholar, Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan
Muhammad Anwaar Alam
Associate Professor & HOD, Oral Biology Department, Superior University, Lahore, Pakistan
Saif Ullah
Assistant Professor, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Mardan Medical Complex / Bacha Khan Dental College, Mardan, Pakistan
Maheen Anis
Assistant Professor Oral Biology, Abbottabad International Medical & Dental College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Shahwar Siddiq
Senior Lecturer Oral Biology, Women Dental College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Akif Mahmud
Assistant Professor, Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Women Dental College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
