Abstract— Effects of endodontic retreatment on quality of seal and periapical healing were assessed among 660 previously root‐filled roots. The roots were divided into either of two groups according to presence or absence of pathologic alterations in the periapical area. The retreatments, which were carried out by dental students, involved a thorough chemomechanical debridement of the root‐canal system aiming to control infection. Following a 2‐year observation period 556 roots were reexamined clinically and radiographically. The results showed that root‐fillings with technical shortcomings could, following retreatment, be markedly improved as regards effectiveness of seal and distance to the apex. A large number of lumina discernible apical to root‐filling could also be treated and filled. Seventy‐eight percent of the cases with pathologic lesion present periapically prior to retreatment either completely healed or displayed an obvious size‐reduction of the process Retreatments carried out because of technical inadequacies alone were successful in 94% of the cases. It was concluded that renewed endodontic treatment whenever possible is the method of choice when treating defective endodontic fillings complicated with pathologic processes periapically. Apical surgery may be attempted if no signs of healing are apparent following observation.

No abstract

No abstract

From general decision‐making theory and endodontic teaching paradigms a hypothesis was evolved explaining variations in treatment decisions with variations in subjective probabilities of disease and complications. This hypothesis was tested on 20 general practitioners and 7 endodontists, who were introduced to 10 cases with endodontically‐treated teeth showing periapical radiolucencies of various proportions. For each case the examiners were instructed to assess probability of disease, probability of future complications and to determine mode of treatment. The results indicate that interindividual variations in endodontic treatment decisions are influenced to a rather low degree by subjective probabilities of different diagnoses and of expected complications. Instead, the decision makers seemed to rely on a limited number of heuristic principles which reduced the complex task of assessing probabilities and predicting outcomes to simpler judgemental operations.

No abstract