[Periotest-analysis in penradicular surgery: preliminary results of a clinical-prospective study]

The two objectives of the present study were: to assess the healing after periradicular surgery using the Periotest device, and to compare the recorded Periotest values with the healing category determined after a one-year follow-up using radiographic and clinical criteria. In 43 patients with periradicular surgery, Periotest values could be recorded pre- and postoperatively, as well as after six and twelve months. Cases with a successful healing, as determined at the one-year follow-up, demonstrated a continuous decrease of the Periotest values over time, whereas one-year failures showed increasing Periotest values over the study period. In control teeth, the Periotest values remained unchanged for the whole study period. It appears that the Periotest measurements correlate with the postoperative healing mode following periradicular surgery, and therefore, allow an additional assessment of the healing outcome.