Accuracy of Dental Operating Microscope in Detecting Number of Root Canals in Human Mandibular First Molars Obturated and Indicated for Retreatment: Diagnostic Accuracy Experimental Study
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Failure to disinfect and to locate all canals is a major reason for root canal primary and secondary failures, which may lead to periapical periodontitis. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is considered the gold standard in canal detection although its use must be justified beforehand due to its high radiation dose. Using dental operating microscope may enhance canal detection and avoid error in interpreting CBCT images. Aim: To evaluate the accuracy of dental operating microscope in detecting root canals in mandibular first molars retreatment cases in comparison to CBCT imaging. Materials and methods: Thirty-five patients with obturated lower first molar(s) referred for retreatment will participate in this study. After a pre-treatment periapical x-ray to aid practitioner in access cavity formation a CBCT will be performed for all cases. CBCT stage1: CBCT scans performed to all participants will be randomly distributed and observed by the principle investigator and supervisors and the number of canals found will be recorded. Clinical stage 2: patients will be randomly distributed on 6 endodontic post graduate students* students enrolled in the endodontic master’s program at MIU* students will then perform access cavity, the number of canals found will be recorded. Data collected will be compared. Between the stage 1and two
Results:
Kappa = 0.878 indicates that there was a very good agreement between the number of canals that were found by means of CBCT and the clinical examination that was performed using a dental operating microscope. The P-value for the two different approaches was 0.247, which indicates that there was no statistically significant difference between the number of canals that were found.
Conclusion: There was no significant difference between detected number of canals by the CBCT and dental operating microscope