Influence of different forms of calcium hydroxide and chlorhexidine intracanal medicaments on the outcome of endodontic treatment of teeth with chronic apical periodontitis

Introduction/Objective. This study determined the 12 months clinical and radiographic periapical healing of teeth with apical periodontitis treating with different formulations of calcium hydroxide (CH): paste (CHpaste) and gutta-percha points (CH-GP), and chlorhexidine (CHX): gel (CHX-gel) and gutta-percha points (CHX-GP). Methods. Eighty patients with chronic apical periodontitis were randomly allocated to 4 different treatment groups according to the intracanal medicament used: CH-paste, CH-GP, CHX-gel and CHX-GP group. Seventy eight patients were analyzed clinically and radiographically 12-month postoperatively. The Periapical index (PAI) was used for radiographic evaluation of treatment success. Results. Overall outcome was classified according to radiographic evaluation only, because in all patients clinical success was observed. In all groups significant reduction in PAI scores were observed (p < 0.001). The proportions of healed teeth (PAI ? 2) were 73.7%, 60.0%, 68.4% and 65.0% in CH-paste, CH-GP, CHXgel and CHX-GP group, respectively, with no significant differences between the groups. Conclusion. The results suggested that there are no differences between investigated CH- and CHXdelivery systems regarding treatment outcome of teeth with apical periodontitis.