[Surgical treatment methods in furcation involvement and their long-term prognosis]

Multi-rooted teeth showing severe furcation defects can be treated by either of the following techniques: Tunnel preparation, hemisection and root resection. The aim of these approaches is to reestablish the anatomical features making it possible to carry out proper homecare in the future. In hemisection and root resection this is achieved by separating and/or removal of roots. An assessment of prognosis is made on the basic of long-term follow-ups. After ten years an average bone loss of 9.5% was recorded. When bridgework was correctly designed loading did not have a detrimental influence on further bone loss. Roots restored by using gold dowels showed the same technical durability as roots restored with root screws/composite cores. The total failure rate after ten years varied between 32 and 38%. Nonperiodontal failures were predominating. This leads to the conclusion that prognosis may not be judged on the basis of periodontal aspects alone.