Endodontic microsurgery: outcomes and prognostic factors

Abstract

Purpose of Review This review addresses endodontic microsurgery procedures compared with traditional surgery and aims to review factors related to the success and failure of endodontic microsurgery from the existing literature.

Recent Findings Periodontal involvement and tooth position are patient- and tooth-related factors known to have an effect on the outcome of apical surgery. Factors related to successful outcome have been reported and include whether the mineral trioxide aggregate used to obturate the apical portion of the root after surgery was fast or slow setting. Although not statistically significant, larger difference in the success rate between slow- and fast-setting MTA groups was observed in teeth with endodontic-periodontal lesions than in teeth with isolated endodontic lesions suggesting that the faster setting root-end filling material is most advantageous, particularly when endodontic lesions have periodontal involvement.

Summary Endodontic microsurgery has witnessed major advances and is currently regarded as an integral part of standard endodontic treatment. Improved visibility and illumination because of the operating microscope, advances in ultrasonic instrument technology, and the development of more biocompatible root-end filling materials have contributed to the technical advances that have led to higher success rates in endodontic microsurgery compared with traditional surgery.