PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF 2 RETROGRADE ENDODONTIC APICAL PREPARATIONS WITHAND WITHOUT THE USE OF CO2-LASER

This article covers a 4-year study that reports 320 cases in which end odontic surgery was performed for residual apical lesions or lesions t hat could not be treated in a conventional way. Four groups of 80 teet h each were formed and they were followed up after a 12-month interval . The first group comprised cases treated with a micro bur, retrograde filling and IRM; the second, cases treated at the apical and radicula r portions with a CO2 laser; the third, cases in which the retrograde cavity was prepared with an ultrasonic device instead of a micro bur; and the fourth group comprised cases treated in a similar way to the s econd group, i.e., cases treated at the apical and radicular portions, but with a CO2 laser instead of a micro bur. After 12 months, the res ults showed a better prognosis with ultrasonic treatment. Regardless o f technique, the CO2 laser did not improve the healing process.