The Global Periapical Health Study: A Big Data CBCT Analysis of Periapical Pathology across 54 Countries

Periapical pathology, a common outcome of pulpal infection or failed endodontic therapy, remains underexplored globally. Most studies are small-scale and based on two-dimensional radiographs. This study aimed to provide a standardized worldwide estimate of its prevalence using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

A cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted across 54 countries, each represented by one calibrated examiner. Examiners consecutively assessed 3,500 roots from pre-existing CBCT scans, yielding data from 189,000 roots (138,536 teeth) of 6,688 patients. A standardized protocol was applied using the CBCT periapical index to record lesion presence, tooth type, previous root canal treatment, and demographic variables. Only scans with voxel size ≤200 μm were included. Data were analyzed through meta-analysis and logistic regression model to evaluate factors associated with periapical pathology, with meta-regression assessing voxel size and field-of-view effects.

At the patient level, periapical pathology affected 58.6% of individuals worldwide. Secondary tooth-level analysis showed a prevalence of 7.3%, ranging from 2.5% in Oceania to 9.6% in Africa. Maxillary teeth (9.3%) were more frequently affected than mandibular teeth (5.3%), with maxillary first molars showing the highest prevalence (18.6%). Prevalence increased with age, from 2.9% (≤20 years) to 10.5% (≥61 years). Endodontically treated teeth showed markedly higher prevalence of post-treatment periapical radiolucencies (44.3%) than untreated teeth (2.6%) (odds ratio = 21.6; confidence interval 19.1-23.1; P < .001). Voxel size and field-of-view did not influence outcomes.

Periapical pathology is highly prevalent worldwide, with notable regional and age-related differences. Endodontically treated teeth showed a disproportionately high prevalence of periapical pathology.