Bs. Chong et al., RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF POTENTIAL ROOT-END FILLING MATERIALS ON HEALING AFTER ENDODONTIC SURGERY, Endodontics & dental traumatology, 13(4), 1997, pp. 176-179
The effects of three root-end filling materials on healing following e
ndodontic surgery were assessed radiologically and correlated with his
tological findings reported elsewhere. The materials compared were a l
ight-cured glass ionomer cement (Vitrebond), a reinforced zinc oxide-e
ugenol cement (Kalzinol) and amalgam. The root canals of 27 two-rooted
mandibular premolar teeth of six beagle dogs were inoculated with end
odontic pathogenic bacteria to induce periradicular lesions. The roots
were apicected and root-end cavities filled with the tested filling m
aterials. The teeth and surrounding jaw were removed after 4 weeks (30
roots) or 8 weeks (24 roots). Radiographs were taken of each jaw sect
ion and subjected to image analysis. Healing was evaluated based on me
asurements of the size of the periradicular radiolucent areas. ANOVA d
isclosed no statistically significant differences in the size of the p
eriradicular areas either between time periods or between materials. T
hese results did not correlate with the tissue responses in the same m
aterial as assessed histologically and previously reported. The use of
radiographs alone to assess healing after endodontic surgery in the d
og mandible is unsatisfactory, and should not be regarded as a substit
ute for histological examination for the determination of healing.