Apexification with the use of calcium hydroxide: a clinical study

The purpose of this study was to examine the type of root-end closure achieved with the apexification technique, in relation to age, sex and stage of root development. Data from 34 cases, in which apexification was performed, were analyzed. In all cases chemically pure powder Ca (OH)2 with anaesthetic solution was used. The age of 12 patients was between 27-40 years (1 male and 11 females) and of the other 22 was between 8-20 years (14 males and 8 females). Continuation of root development was achieved in 6 cases, continuation and bridge formation was revealed in three cases, bridge formation was seen in 21 cases and finally in 4 cases no root-end closure was noticed. From the above results it was evident that the bridge formation was the most common form of root-end closure. Statistical analysis revealed a strong correlation between the type of root-end closure and the stage of root development prior to apexification in relation to: a) sex and b) age. Thus the bridge formation was the most common type (87.5%) in the group of females. Also in the same sex group concerning the stage 4 of root development bridge formation was again the type of root-end closure (92.85%). Finally, it was found that in age group B (27-45-years-old), with stage 4 of root development, the bridge formation was the most common type of root-end closure (90%).