Evaluation of the Quality of Endodontic Treatment among a Sample of Jordanian Population : A Radiographic Study

Abstract

Objectives:To evaluate the quality of root canal treatment using radiographic examination in a sample of Jordanian population Methods: The study sample consisted of randomly selected patients referred to endodontic clinics, at Al-Hussien hospital. Clinical and radiographical (Orthopantomographs) examinations were performed to evaluate 139 patients. The periapical status of all teeth was examined. The quality of the root canal filling was rated as 'adequate' or 'inadequate'. Endodontically treated (with or without periapical radiolucency), existed, filled teeth (with or without root canal treatment) were recorded. The quality of endodontic treatment was correlated to age and gender, and its association with periapical radiolucency and tooth restoration was determined. Data were analyzed statistically using the Chi-square test and t-test. The quality of endodontic treatment was assessed using odd ratios in the chi square test in terms of adequacy in association with existed or absence of periapical radiolucency. Level of significance was set at 0.05. Results:Out of 3433 examined teeth, 8.3% were endodontically treated. Periapical radiolucency was associated with11.9% of teeth, of these 4.7% were related to endodontically treated teeth and 36.2% of filled teeth were endodontically treated. Females had significant more existed teeth (p0.05) and more periapical radiolucency associated with non-endodontically treated teeth (p0.01), however, males significantly had more periapical radiolucency with root canal treatment (p0.05). The prevalence of endodontically treated teeth increased with age, and it is significant in patients aged 40 years or more. The prevalence of periapical radiolucency increased with age. However, it was only significant in non-endodontically treated teeth (p0.05), in patients aged 50 years and above. Significantly more endodontically treated teeth and periapical radiolucency in the maxilla than in the mandible (P<0.05).Adequate endodontic treatment with periapical radiolucency was 30.1%, whereas inadequate root filling and periapical radiolucency was 69.9%. Approximately, 62% of endodontic treatment was significantly unsatisfactory(p=0.001).Conclusions: 8.3% of examined teeth were endodontically-treated, of these, 40% were associated with periapical radiolucency. Only 48.8% of endodontic treatments were adequate and not associated with periapical radiolucency, however, 62% were unsatisfactory.