HEALING OF APICAL PERIODONTITIS IN DOGS AFTER APICOECTOMY AND RETROFILLING WITH VARIOUS FILLING MATERIALS

Objective. To histologically assess the efficacy of various retrofilli ng materials in apical surgery. Study design. The pulps of mandibular premolars in seven beagle dogs were infected; this resulted in periapi cal lesions. Apical surgery was performed without disinfection of the root canals. Super EBA (Harry J. Bosworth Co., Skokie, III.), two form ulations of glass ionomer cement, amalgam with varnish, IRM, (Caulk Co ., Ltd., Densply International, Milford, Del.) and a light-cured compo site resin were the retrofilling materials used. Roots infected and ap icoectomized without retrofilling were positive controls. After 6 mont hs the dogs were killed. The experimental roots and surrounding apical tissues were prepared and histologically examined and relative percen tages of bone and inflammation were calculated. Results. Super EBA was consistently the best. In overall periapical condition, Super EBA was statistically superior to all materials except IRM. IRM was superior to the glass ionomer cements but not the other materials. As to percen tage of bone, Super EBA was the best overall; it was superior to glass ionomer, composite resin, and the positive control but not different from amalgam or IRM. When comparing remaining numbers of inflammatory cells, Super EBA was superior with the lowest number of inflammatory c ells present. Conclusion. Although not statistically different from IR M, Super EBA was consistently the best retrofilling material tested wh en compared with all retrofilling materials studied.