Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the frequency and status of root canal-treated teeth in patients treated at the College of Dentistry, University of Dammam in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.
Materials and methods: A total of 3701 patients visited the clinics during the study period. Through the use of radiographs, 161 patients were initially selected who had endodontically treated teeth. However, after applying the inclusion criteria, the total number of eligible cases was reduced to 155. Patients were divided into three groups according to age (children 1-12 years, adults 13-65 years and geriatrics >65 years).
Results: On average, each patient had 2.28 ± 1.88 root canal-treated teeth and 24.02 ± 5.03 teeth without root canal treatment. The average number of endodontically treated teeth increased with an increase in age. The adult group showed the highest number of root-filled teeth 314 (93.4%). Of the 336 endodontically treated teeth, only 75 (22.3%) teeth exhibited periapical radiolucency. First molars (28.43-36.36%) and second premolars (20.1-27.27%) were the most frequently root-filled teeth in both jaws, followed by the first maxillary premolars (11.76%). Periapical lesions showed an almost similar pattern with the highest number of radiolucencies found in the first molars in both jaws (29.3-33.3%) followed by the second premolars in the mandible (30.6%) and first premolars in both jaws (20.8-25%).
Conclusion: The first molars and second premolars were the most frequently root-filled teeth in both jaws, followed by maxillary first premolars. Periapical lesions showed an almost similar pattern among teeth with a higher number of radiolucencies found in the first molars in both jaws, followed by the second premolars in the mandible and the first premolars in both jaws.
ملخص البحث: تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى تقييم تكرر وحالة جذور الأسنان لدى المرضى الذين تم علاجهم بكلية طب الأسنان جامعة الدمام بالمنطقة الشرقية من المملكة العربية السعودية. شملت الدراسة 3701 مريضاً زاروا عيادات الكلية في فترة الدراسة. وضحت نتائج الدراسة أن الأضراس الأولى (first molar) وأسنان الضاحك الثاني (second premolars) كانت هي أكثر الأسنان في معالجة الجذور بالفكين يتلوهما الضواحك الأولى العلوية (maxillary first premolars). أما نمط الآفات الذروية( periapical lesions) فكان مشابها لنمط الأسنان الأكثر توهجا إشعاعيا في الأضراس الأولى في كلا الفكين يتلوهما أسنان الضاحك الثاني في الفك.
Keywords: Endodontics; Saudi Arabia; epidemiology; periapical disease; radiographic evaluation; root canal treatment.