Radiographic Evaluation of the Gap between Cemented Post and Remaining Gutta-Percha in Endodontically Treated Teeth Performed by Undergraduate Students: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

The coronal seal in root canal-treated teeth may be compromised depending on the accuracy of post space preparation and post cementation along with remaining gutta-percha. Root canal treatment can be compromised by endotoxins released by the coronal bacteria as a result of microleakage. The study was conducted by undergraduate students to measure the gap between the cemented post and residual gutta-percha. In total, 217 endodontically treated teeth were evaluated with intraoral peri-apical radiographs. Based on the intraoral periapical radiographic examination in the CS-R4 program, Group I had no gap, Group II had a gap of >0 to 2 mm, and Group III had a gap of more than 2 mm between the end of the cemented post and the remaining gutta-percha. In total, 40% (n = 87) of the teeth had no gap, 59% (127) had a gap of >0 to 2 mm, and 1% (n = 3) had a gap of more than 2 mm between the cemented post end and remaining gutta. Chi square test revealed a significant difference in the gap between the post and remaining gutta-percha between males and females students (p < 0.001). In terms of the gap between the cemented post end and the residual gutta-percha, the root canal treated teeth with post and core by undergraduates were clinically acceptable.

Evaluation of Students' Proficiency in Removing Gutta-Percha Prior to Fiber Post Placement: A Retrospective Study

“…Maxillary incisors were the most common type of teeth included in this study, followed by premolars. This observation is consistent with some of the previous studies [ 2 , 13 ]. Different order was observed in other studies where premolars were the most restored teeth followed by anteriors [ 3 , 5 , 15 ].…”

“…A study performed by Meshni et al [ 12 ] showed similar results, and the remaining GP was 3-5 mm in 55% and >5 mm in 29% of the treated cases. Other studies reported more than two-thirds of the cases achieved suboptimum (>5 mm), while around one-third showed optimal measurments (3-5 mm) of remaining apical GP [ 2 , 3 , 13 ]. These differences could be related to sample heterogenecity between the studies, including type of teeth included and students' academic levels.…”

“…Preparing the post space involves the removal of the GP from the coronal and middle parts of the root canal. An effective apical seal prevents root canal reinfection by penetrating the bacteria and infectious material into the root canal space from the periapical space [1][2][3][4]. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful while preparing the root canal space to avoid compromising the apical seal.…”

Dentistry: A Multidisciplinary Approach

“…Advancements in biomaterials and surgical techniques allow for treatments that are tailored to the unique needs and conditions of each patient. This individualized approach is crucial, especially in complex cases where a standardized treatment may not suffice [ 2 ]. Furthermore, the exploration of new frontiers, such as the use of ozonated water for the treatment of Candida infections, represents a significant step towards finding more effective, safer, and less invasive treatment options.…”

Effect of the Gap between Cemented Posts and Remaining Gutta-Percha on the Clinical Outcome of Endodontically Treated Teeth Managed by Undergraduate Dental Students: A Prospective Study with 4 Years of Follow-Up

“…The same participants were divided into three groups as well, in order to determine how much gutta-percha was still present after the post-and core-procedure [10,[20][21][22].…”