Survival Rate of Teeth with a C-shaped Canal after Intentional Replantation: A Study of 41 Cases for up to 11 Years

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Teeth with a C-shaped canal have been regarded as a challenge for nonsurgical root canal treatment (RCT) and apical microsurgery because of their anatomic variations and low accessibility. For such teeth, intentional replantation might be a treatment option. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic factors for the clinical outcome of intentionally replanted teeth with a C-shaped canal.

METHODS: We retrospectively investigated patients who had undergone intentional tooth replantation at the Department of Conservative Dentistry, Yonsei University Dental Hospital, Seoul, Korea, from June 2002 to November 2015. Consequently, 41 intentionally replanted teeth with C-shaped canals were identified. The cumulative survival rate and related prognostic factors were assessed based on clinical and radiographic examination using survival analysis.

RESULTS: The cumulative survival rate of intentionally replanted teeth with a C-shaped canal was 83.4% at 4 years and 73.0% at 11 years postoperatively. Based on Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, extraoral time (≤15 minutes vs >15 minutes) and retrofilling material (ProRoot MTA [Dentsply, Tulsa, OK] vs others) were significantly associated with tooth survival (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS: Extraoral time exceeding 15 minutes and the use of ProRoot MTA as a retrofilling material were significantly associated with a lower survival of intentionally replanted teeth with C-shaped canals. With improved clinical procedures based on an understanding of the prognostic factors, intentional replantation would be a favorable treatment option for treating teeth with a C-shaped canal.