Assessing the Healing Process in the Periapical Region: A Retrospective Study

Angela Gusiyska

Abstract: Periapical lesions are generally accompanied by bone destruction, which is radiographically observed as radiolucency around the apex. A balance is found between microbial factors and the host?s defence that allows the persistence of pathogens in the root canal, leading to the formation of various lesions in the periapical area. Periapical lesions are viewed as the consequence of a dynamic encounter between root canal microbes and the host?s defence. A total of 287 teeth (n=287) treated by two endodontists over a 7-year-period of time and were studied based on dental records. The treated teeth were placed into three main groups according to the initial periapical index: Group I-PAI2, Group II-PAI3 and Group III-PAI4. Based on the follow-up period, the case results were grouped into three subgroups: 1) follow-up to 2 years; 2) follow-up to 4 years; 3) follow-up to 7 years. The analysis and assessment of the results by parallel radiographs showed that in clinical cases that were followed up within the second year, a successful periapical healing process was observed in 96.39% of cases, and failure was observed in 3.61% of cases. Tissue repair in the periapical area was observed in the three main groups: PAI2, PAI3 and PAI4. The monitored clinical cases for the specified period demonstrate that adhering to the exact clinical protocol results in a satisfactory recovery process in the periapex.

Keywords: endodontic outcome, monitoring, periapical lesion, radiographs, retrospective study

How to Cite?: Angela Gusiyska, "Assessing the Healing Process in the Periapical Region: A Retrospective Study", Volume 14 Issue 9, September 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 424-430, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25908124448, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25908124448