Periapical healing responses in the Rhesus monkey following intentional overfilling of the root canal system : A histo-study with radiographic comparisons
OA Version
Citation
Abstract
The reaction of periapical tissues to root canal filling materials has long been a topic of interest in endodontics.
While some studies have used humans and other primates, most have been restricted to lower animal forms, e.g., dogs, cats or various types of rodents. The use of lower animals has been questioned relative to clinical application of the experimental results.
Generally the conclusions of most investigators suggest that the presence of root canal filling materials beyond the apex of a tooth will retard healing and/ or cause failure of the root canal treatment. It has been suggested that these conclusions are based on underfilled canals with vertical overextensions.
Since the vast majority of endodontic lesions heal after proper root canal treatment, most clinicians do not feel that an overfilled root canal is a cause for concern. The projection of filling material into the periapical space does cause inflammation, but this is generally subclinical and is not a problem to the careful practicing dentist. If the periapical lesion is of endodontic origin, it cannot fail to heal if completely cleaned and obturated in three dimensions.
The Macaca Mulatta monkey was chosen for this experiment because of its basic physiologic similarity to man, its accelerated healing rate (relative to man), the bacteriological similarity of its saliva, the similarity of root anatomy and the need for block sections for microscopic evaluation.
Many investigators feel that the anatomy and physiology are sufficiently similar to that of humans to provide results applicable to clinical practice .
The procedures used in this experiment were intended to stay as close as possible to clinic conditions, so that results of the study could be more easily applicable to the daily practice of endodontics. With the exception of the use of general anesthetic, all procedures were performed as they would have been, if done at the Endodontic Clinic at Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc.D.)--Boston University, School of Graduate Dentistry. Dept. of Endodontics, 1975.
Includes bibliographic references: leaves 28-35.
Includes bibliographic references: leaves 28-35.
License
This work is being made available in OpenBU by permission of its author, and is available for research purposes only. All rights are reserved to the author.