Periapical surgery using ultrasonic preparation and thermoplasticized gutta-percha with AH Plus sealer or IRM as retrograde root-end fillings in 160 consecutive teeth: a prospective randomized clinical study

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the healing outcome after periapical surgery with an ultrasonic cleaning technique in conjunction with the use of either of 2 different retrograde root-filling materials in teeth with apical periodontitis.Study designOne hundred sixty teeth in 139 consecutive patients were randomly allocated into 2 groups receiving either IRM or thermoplasticized gutta-percha (GP) with AH Plus sealer as a retrograde root-end seal. The patients were reviewed 12 months after surgery. The results were analyzed with Fisher exact test.ResultsOne hundred forty-seven teeth in 131 patients were reviewed. Radiologic evaluation and clinical examination showed an 85% success rate for the IRM group and 90% for GP group. There was no statistical significance between the 2 groups.ConclusionBoth tested materials, IRM and GP, are suitable as retrograde root-end filling materials in conjunction with ultrasonic root-end preparation according to the results of the healing outcome after 12 months follow-up.