New surgical method improves periapical healing

By means of a refined surgical technique for cleaning and retrograde root-filling infected teeth, the healing results of periapical infection can be considerably improved. This has been shown by Dan-Åke Wälivaara, consultant oral surgeon, in the Maxillofacial Unit at Hallands Hospital, Halmstad, Sweden.

By means of a refined surgical technique for cleaning and retrograde root-filling infected teeth, the healing results of periapical infection can be considerably improved. This has been shown by Dan-Åke Wälivaara, consultant oral surgeon, in the Maxillofacial Unit at Hallands Hospital, Halmstad, Sweden.

Dan-Åke Wälivaara defended his thesis, ”On healing after periapical surgery and different retrograde root-filling materials. A clinical and histological study” in the Department of Biomaterial Sciences, Gothenburg University, on Friday the 27th of May 2011.

In four different studies Dr Wälivaara has investigated 358 patients (422 teeth) who were referred to the Maxillofacial Unit due to periapical infection in the jaw-bone. The operative procedure involved preparation and cleaning of the apical part of the root-canal using an ultra-sound technique, following which the canal was sealed using one of three different materials; IRM, Super-EBA and Gutta-Percha.

In addition to the clinical studies, the thesis also includes an animal study on dogs. In this latter study, the above mentioned materials and also MTA were used. A histological evaluation of the periapical reaction to the materials was performed.

The clinical study showed that periapical healing had occurred in 80 – 91 % of teeth at the 1-year follow-up,. This is a notable result compared with previously presented techniques which typically show a periapical healing success rate of between 50 % and 75 %.

Dr Wälivaara has shown in his systematic and well executed clinical investigation, how the prognosis for teeth requiring periapical surgery can be considerably improved. The study demonstrates that periapical infection can be successfully treated using this technique, with the practical consequence that the risk of tooth loss due to periapical infection can be greatly reduced.

Halmstad 2011-06-14

Sten Isaksson