LONG-TERM RESULTS OF AMALGAM VERSUS GLASS-IONOMER CEMENT AS APICAL SEALANT AFTER APICECTOMY

A total of 67 teeth in 64 patients were treated with apicectomy and re trograde fillings. They were randomized to receive fillings of amalgam or glass ionomer cement in a comparative clinical study. Healing was evaluated clinically and radiographically after 1 and 5 years. Evaluat ion showed no difference in healing capacity between the two materials . Overall success rates in both groups were registered as 90% at 1 yea r and 85% at 5 years. Contamination with broad or saliva during insert ion of the filling material did not affect healing adversely. The stud y shows that the 5-year follow-up result can be predicted in more than 95% of the cases at the 1-year follow-up. It can be concluded that gl ass ionomer cement is a valid alternative to amalgam as an apical seal ant after apicectomy with equally good long-term clinical results.