Failures and healing in endodontically treated non-vital anterior teeth with posttraumatically reduced pulpal lumen

The aim of the present investigation was to assess the frequency of technical failures as well as the 4-year results of endodontic treatment in non-vital incisors with post-traumatically reduced pulpal lumen. In 54 teeth the smallest width of the root canal was measured and classified as 0. less than or equal 0.1, greater than 0.1- less than or equal to 0.2 or greater than 0.2 mm. The total frequency of failures was 20%. In upper incisors it was 15-17% in the classes up to a root canal width of 0.2 mm. In lower incisors with no or only partially visible root canal it was 71% and in the class up to 0.1 mm 10%, the difference being significant at the 5% level. The total frequency of healing after 4 years was 80%, while in teeth with a technical failure at the time of treatment the frequency was 50%. The difference between the group without and that with technical failures was statistically significant at the 5% level.