ASSESSMENT OF REASONS FOR INITIAL ENDODONTIC THERAPY FAILURE BASED ON RADIOGRAPHIC FINDINGS

Objective: To assess the reasons for failure of beginning endodontic therapy. Material and Method: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out at University of Lahore during the period from February, 2016 to December, 2016. Total 400 patients were included in which males were 214 (53.50%) and female patients were 186 (46.50%). Age ranges of all the patients were 13-years to 70-years. To find out the reasons for failure of beginning root-canal therapy, examination of periapical radiographs of these four hundred patients was done. Results: Canal under-obturation was found in 182 (45.50%), poor-obturation in 104 (26.0%), missed canals had 58 (14.50%), over-obturation observed in 20 (5.0%) and iatrogenic error was found in 9% as a reason for failure of beginning root-canal therapy out of these 400 radiographs. Conclusion: It was concluded that root-canal under-obturation was the most general reason for beginning endodontic treatment failure subsequently poor-obturation, over-obturation, missed canals and iatrogenic errors.