Department of Cariology and Gerodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Blindern, P.O. Box 1109, N-0317, Oslo, Norway.
Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
BMC Oral Health. 2022 Sep 1;22(1):371. doi: 10.1186/s12903-022-02406-9.
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the prevalence of apical periodontitis (AP) and root-filled teeth in a 65-year-old population in Oslo, Norway, and to investigate associations of pathosis and endodontic treatment with selected individual risk indicators and technical quality of root fillings.
A random sample of 450 65-year-olds in Oslo answered a questionnaire and underwent a clinical and radiological examination (52% men and 48% women). Periapical radiographs were taken of all root-filled teeth and of teeth with apical radiolucency, and periapical status was evaluated using the Periapical Index. Apex-to-filling distance and homogeneity were assessed for all root fillings. Analyses on individual level and tooth level were performed. The outcome variables were 'non-root-filled tooth with AP' ('untreated AP'), 'root-filled tooth', and 'root-filled tooth with AP'. The explanatory variables were gender, education, dental attendance pattern, smoking, remaining teeth (n), tooth group, and root filling quality. Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were used to assess the associations between outcome variables and explanatory variables. The level of significance was set to p < 0.05.
The mean number of remaining teeth was 26 (SD: 4). AP was present in 45% of the individuals. Sixteen percent of the individuals had untreated AP and 38% had at least one root-filled tooth with AP. Sixty-six percent of the individuals had one or more root-filled teeth. Untreated AP was significantly associated with a decreasing number of remaining teeth and smoking. All the outcome variables were significantly more prevalent in molars compared with premolars and anterior teeth. Thirty-five percent of the root-filled teeth had AP, and AP was more prevalent in teeth with too short apex-to-filling distance (53%) or unsatisfactory homogeneity (46%).
The remaining number of teeth was high, and AP and root-filled teeth were prevalent in the present young-elderly population. A notable amount of untreated AP was observed, especially in smokers. The findings in the present study indicate a substantial need for dental care associated with endodontic conditions in the future elderly.
本横断面研究旨在调查挪威奥斯陆 65 岁人群中根尖周炎（AP）和根管治疗牙的患病率，并探讨病变和根管治疗与选定个体危险因素以及根管充填技术质量的关系。
奥斯陆的一个随机样本 450 名 65 岁老年人回答了一份问卷并接受了临床和放射学检查（52%为男性，48%为女性）。所有根管治疗牙和根尖有放射性透明的牙均拍摄根尖片，并使用根尖指数评估根尖状态。评估所有根管充填的根尖到充填物的距离和均质性。在个体水平和牙齿水平上进行分析。结果变量为“无 AP 的未治疗牙”（“未治疗 AP”）、“根管治疗牙”和“有 AP 的根管治疗牙”。解释变量为性别、教育程度、就诊模式、吸烟、剩余牙齿数（n）、牙位和根管充填质量。采用卡方检验和逻辑回归分析评估结果变量与解释变量之间的关系。显著性水平设为 p < 0.05。
平均剩余牙齿数为 26 颗（标准差：4 颗）。45%的个体存在 AP。16%的个体有未治疗的 AP，38%的个体至少有一颗根管治疗牙有 AP。66%的个体有一颗或多颗根管治疗牙。未治疗的 AP 与剩余牙齿数减少和吸烟显著相关。所有结果变量在磨牙中均显著高于前磨牙和前牙。35%的根管治疗牙有 AP，根尖到充填物距离过短（53%）或均质性差（46%）的牙齿 AP 更为常见。
本研究中剩余牙齿数量较高，年轻老年人中 AP 和根管治疗牙较为常见。观察到大量未治疗的 AP，尤其是吸烟者。本研究的结果表明，未来老年人群中与根管状况相关的口腔保健需求巨大。
