RADIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTS OF POTENTIAL ROOT-END FILLING MATERIALS ON HEALING AFTER ENDODONTIC SURGERY

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.