Trial suggests no difference between single-visit and two-visit root canal treatment

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Public Health

Background:

• Apical periodontitis requires effective root canal treatment (RoCT).
• The number of treatment visits may influence clinical outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the success rates of single-visit versus two-visit root canal treatment (RoCT) for apical periodontitis.

Main Methods:

• Randomised controlled trial involving 287 patients (300 teeth) with apical periodontitis.
• Intervention: Patients received either single-visit or two-visit RoCT.
• Outcome measure: Clinical and radiographic evaluation at two years by masked examiners.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in periapical healing between single-visit and two-visit RoCT at two years.
• Healing rates were 96.57% for single-visit and 88.97% for two-visit treatments.
• Eighteen teeth were lost to follow-up (nine from each group).

Conclusions:

• Meticulously instrumented single-visit RoCT is as successful as two-visit treatment.
• Radiographic evidence of periapical healing shows no significant difference between single-visit and two-visit RoCT.