2022 年 2 巻 1 号 p. 16-24
Purpose: Bioceramics-based root canal sealers are becoming essential in modern endodontics worldwide and are currently being used in Japan; however, there have been no follow-up studies on teeth treated using these sealers. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively evaluate 3-year follow-up data pertaining to teeth treated with a bioceramics-based root canal sealer.
Methods: Patients treated at the Division of Tooth Therapy (Endodontics and Restorative Dentistry) of Kyushu Dental University Hospital and a private dental clinic were recruited, and 127 teeth that were obturated with a bioactive glass-based root canal sealer were followed up for 3 years. The rates and incidence of functionally surviving and extracted teeth were analyzed. Additionally, 56 teeth with 3-year follow-up radiographs were assessed using the periapical index (PAI) score.
Results: One hundred and fifteen teeth (91%) survived functionally, and 12 teeth (9%) were extracted during the 3 years. The 12 extracted teeth were initially diagnosed as non-preservable by the dentist because of root cracks or fractures and extensive bone defects, but were endodontically treated in accordance with the patients’ strong requests. There were significant associations between functional surviving and extracted teeth and tooth type, subjective symptoms, initial treatment/re-treatment, and cracks/fractures. In contrast, there was no significant difference between surviving and extracted teeth according to the root canal obturation technique, pain immediately after root canal obturation, and overfilling of the root canal. In the comparison according to PAI scores, the rates of scores 1 and 2 increased, whereas those of scores 3 and 4 decreased.
Conclusion: This 3-year retrospective follow-up study of root canal-obturated cases revealed that the bioactive glass-based root canal sealer evaluated herein, a bioceramics-based sealer, can be applied to achieve favorable outcomes in endodontic therapy.
