Outcome of Nonsurgical Root Canal Retreatment Procedures Obturated with Warm Gutta-percha Techniques: A Longitudinal Clinical Study

Abstract

Introduction: To evaluate the success rate of nonsurgical root canal retreatment at the 2–3-year follow-up and identify the possible prognostic factors. Methods: Patients who underwent root canal retreatment at a university dental clinic were contacted for clinical and radiographic follow-up. The retreatment outcomes in these cases were based on clinical signs, symptoms, and radiographic criteria. Inter- and intraexaminer concordances were calculated using Cohen's kappa coefficient. The retreatment outcome was dichotomized into success or failure according to strict and loose criteria. The radiographic success criteria consisted of complete resolution or absence of a periapical lesion (strict criteria) or a reduction in the size of an existing periapical lesion at recall (loose criteria). χ2 tests were used to evaluate possible variables associated with retreatment outcomes (age, sex, tooth type, location, contact points, periapical status, quality of previous and final root canal filling, previous and final restoration, number of visits, and complications). Results: Overall, 129 teeth (113 patients) were included in the final evaluation. The success rate was 80.6% under strict criteria and 93% under loose criteria. Molars, teeth with an initially higher periapical index score, and teeth with >5 mm periapical radiolucency had a lower success rate according to the strict criteria model (P < .05). When the loose success criteria were used, teeth with larger (>5 mm) periapical lesions and those that had been perforated during retreatment showed a lower success rate (P < .05). Conclusions: The present study demonstrated that nonsurgical root canal retreatment is a highly successful procedure after an observation period of 2–3 years. Treatment success is primarily affected by the presence of large periapical lesions.