Radiographic assessment of post-retained crowns in an adult Jordanian population.

Abstract

AIM:

The objective of this study was to radiographically assess and compare the quality of post-retained crowns fabricated at the Dental Health Centre of the Jordan University of Science & Technology (JUST).

METHODS AND MATERIALS:

Study data were collected in 2002 from existing dental records for all patients receiving treatment with post-retained crowns between October, 1997 and June, 1999. The posts were assessed radiographically to evaluate various aspects of the quality of post-retained crowns. All 129 posts were fabricated in the dental school.

RESULTS:

The most-frequently restored teeth were the maxillary incisors (38.8%). Sixty-two percent of the posts were tapered, while 38% were parallel-sided. The mean length of the posts was 0.95 mm (SD 0.41) with a range between 0.22-2.85 mm. Caries was diagnosed radiographically in 10.8% of cases with lesions located on root surfaces in 64.3% of them, while 35.7% of lesions were within the root canal. Three posts (2.3%) were deviated from the line of the root canal in the mesio-distal plane. No evidence of root filling was found in 2.3% of the cases. In the remainder of teeth 15.5% had gutta percha extended to the radiographic apex of the tooth, while 59.7% fell 0.5-1 mm short of the radiographic apex. Gutta-percha was extruded beyond the apex in 22.5% of the teeth. Space between the end of the post and the root filling was found in 22.2%. The percentage of canals with apparently completely healthy periapical tissue was 51.2%. In the rest of the cases 34.8% had areas of radiolucency at or near the root apices and 14% demonstrated widening of the periodontal space around the root apex. Root resection had been completed in 2.3% cases. Signs of external resorption were apparent in one case (0.78%).

CONCLUSION:

The standards of the treatment of the endodontically treated teeth made at the dental hospital were satisfactory but could be improved by a controlled academic supervisory environment and a strict scientific approach to fixed prosthodontics within the dental school.

• Authors: Khaled Q Al-Hamad, Mohamed Al-Omari, Ahed Al-Wahadni, Azmi Darwazeh
• Journal: The journal of contemporary dental practice (J Contemp Dent Pract) Vol. 7 Issue 4 Pg. 29-36 (Sep 01 2006) ISSN: 1526-3711 [Electronic] India
• PMID: 16957788 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Crowns
• Dental Prosthesis Design
• Dental Pulp Cavity (diagnostic imaging)
• Humans
• Jordan
• Post and Core Technique
• Radiography
• Retrospective Studies
• Tooth, Nonvital (diagnostic imaging)