LONG-TERM RESULTS OF ENDODONTIC TREATMENT USING OPERATING MICROSCOPE

Aim. To clarify operating microscope (OM) usage on the long-term outcome after endodontic treatment. Material and methods. Seventy-seven patients (94 molars), aged 19–70 years, undergoing treatment for complicated caries were divided into two groups: the first group, 42 patients (54 teeth), was treated with OM; the second group, 35 patients (40 teeth), was treated without OM. The time spent on treatment per tooth, as well as the presence or absence of pulp chamber calcification, was recorded. The results were assessed after 6 and 12 months clinically and using cone-beam computed tomography. Statistical differences was p < 0.05. Results. The treatment success after 12 months was higher with OM than without it (91 % and 72 %, respectively). The use of OM contributed to the detection of additional mesio-buccal canals (MB2) in the maxillary molars (67 % and 19 %, respectively), which increased the percentage of teeth with a favorable outcome one year after endodontic treatment (p < 0.001). At 6 months after treatment, radiographically, a difference was still observed between the diagnoses and the presence of periodontal gap widening, the presence of periapical foci and the absence of changes (p < 0.05). After 12 months, the percentage of teeth without periapical changes was predominant in all groups. No difference was found between the diagnosis and the outcome. The time spent on treatment of one tooth using OM increased by an average of 10 minutes (p < 0.05). The presence of mineralization of the tooth cavity did not affect the treatment outcome (p > 0.05). Conclusion. OM usage increases the favorable treatment outcome after one year and increases the treatment time per tooth by 10 minutes. In maxillary molars, MB2 is more often found with OM. In cases where MB2 was not detected, periapical changes were detected in 88 % of cases one year after treatment.