Analysis of the results of the treatment of chronic apical periodontitis using vacuum-jet root canal irrigation
Relevance. Persistence of microorganisms in the root canal system of teeth with apical periodontitis negatively affects the success of treatment and the expected response to it. Improving the process of root canal irrigation can form a basis for the development of new scientifically grounded methods for effective treatment of the root canal system. Aim. To increase the effectiveness of the treatment of chronic apical periodontitis through improving the method of root canal irrigation. Materials and methods. 180 patients with chronic apical periodontitis were examined and treated. The survey sample was divided into 2 groups: the main group of 90 patients treated with the use of vacuum-jet irrigation; the control group of 90 patients submitted to the standard irrigation procedure with the use of an endodontic syringe with sonic activation. The study included patients subject to the primary endodontic intervention (98 people), and patients subject to the medically indicated repeated endodontic treatment (82 people). The case follow-up lasted for 24 months. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated according to clinical, anamnestic and radiological criteria. Results. No aggravation of the process was identified in 86.7% of patients of the control group during the 2-year followup. Remission was achieved by only 76.9% of the control group patients who had undergone repeated intervention. In the main study group, remission for over 24 months was identified in 97.8% of individuals. According to the PAI index, a lytic lesion in the periapical area reactivated within 24 months in 94.3% of the main group patients, which exceeds the control group's rate by 2.7 times.