Page 34 - MDJ 2022 Jan-Jun, Volume 45 Number 1

Ahmad / Sebastian Rajah

Table 4: Length, density, and taper of the root canal fillings in relation to tooth group.
Tooth Number Length ᵇ D e n s i t y ᵇ T a per ᵇ
group of teeth ᵃ Acceptable Under Over Acceptable Poor Acceptable Poor
Maxilla
88 46 39 3 43 45 48 40
Incisors
53.3 % 52.3 % 44.4 % 3.4 % 48.9 % 51.1 % 54.5 % 45.5 %
1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1
Canines
0.6 % 0 % 100 % 0 % 0 % 100 % 0 % 100 %
18 4 14 0 6 12 5 13
Premolars
10.9 % 22.2 % 77.8 % 0 % 33.3 % 66.7 % 27.8 % 72.2 %
9 3 6 0 4 5 4 5
Molars
5.5 % 33.3 % 66.7 % 0 % 44.4 % 55.6 % 44.4 % 55.6 %
Mandible
3 2 1 0 1 2 1 2
Incisors
1.8 % 66.7 % 33.3 % 0 % 33 % 66.7 % 33 % 66.7 %
1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0
Canines
0.6 % 0 % 100 % 0 % 100 % 0 % 100 % 0 %
13 4 9 0 5 8 6 7
Premolars
7.9 % 30.8 % 69.2 % 0 % 38.5 % 61.5 % 46.2 % 53.8 %
32 13 19 0 12 20 13 19
Molars
19.4 % 40.6 % 59.4 % 0 % 37.5 % 62.5 % 40.6 % 59.4 %
165 72 90 3 72 93 78 87
Total
100 % 43.6 % 54.5 % 1.8 % 43.6 % 56.4 % 47.3 % 52.7 %
ᵃ Percentage distribution within the total number of teeth
ᵇ Percentage distribution within each tooth group
Table 5: Quality of the root canal fillings in relation to tooth
group.

Tooth Number Quality of root canal fillingᵇ
group of teethᵃ Adequate Inadequate
Maxilla
88 23 65
Incisors
53.3 % 69.7 % 49.2 %
1 0 1
Canines
0.6 % 0 % 0.8 %
18 1 12
Premolars
10.9 % 3.0 % 12.9 %
9 3 6
Molars
5.5 % 9.1 % 4.5 %
Mandible
Figure 3: Root canal filling > 2 mm short of radiographic apex, 3 1 2
with voids and inconsistent taper (inadequate). Incisors
1.8 % 3.0 % 1.5 %
In this study, 83 % of root treated teeth presented Canines 1 0 1
with periapical lesions. Table 6 depicts the quality of root 0.6 % 0 % 0.8 %
canal fillings in relation to presence or absence of Premolars 13 1 12
periapical lesions. The majority of the inadequate root 7.9 % 3.0 % 9.1 %
canal filling group (87.1 %) presented with periapical Molars 32 4 28
lesions. There was a statistically significant difference 19.4 % 12.1 % 21.2 %
between adequate and inadequate quality of root canal Total 165 33 132
fillings in relation to periapical lesions (p ≤ 0.05). This 100 % 100.0 % 100.0 %
shows that when the root canal filling is inadequate, it is ᵃ Percentage distribution within the total number of teeth
more likely to present with a periapical lesion. ᵇ Percentage distribution within quality of root canal filling
Pearson chi square = 8.607, p = 0.282
Table 6: Quality of root canal fillings in relation to presence or absence of periapical lesion.
Quality of root canal filling
Total
Adequate Inadequate
Presence % within quality of root 22 115 137
canal filling 66.7 % 87.1 % 83.0 %
Presence/absence of periapical lesion
Absence % within quality of root 11 17 28
canal filling 33.3 % 12.9 % 17.0 %
33 132 165
Total % within quality root canal filling 33 100 % 100 % 100 %
Pearson chi square = 7.84, p = 0.05