A cross-sectional study of the periapical status of teeth and quality of root canal treatment in a selected population of young Turkish and foreigners living in Türkiye

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the quality and state of treatment for teeth with periapical lesions (PLs) in a group of young Turkish and international residents living in Türkiye.
Methods: Patients between the ages of 18 and 30 whose digital orthopantomography (OPTG) was taken between January 2018 and January 2023 were evaluated. Gender, age, nationality, the number of teeth present, the number and location of endodontically treated teeth, the number of teeth with PL, periapical status, and the standard of root canal treatment (RCT) were all employed and recorded. This study had 393 foreign patients. The same number of Turkish patients was chosen by systematic sampling from the 30405 Turkish patients.
Results: The OPTGs of 786 patients including 21126 teeth were evaluated. The average age of patients was 23. The number of teeth with RCT was 1100 teeth (5.2%). In the Turkish population, 10668 teeth were examined; RCT was present in 332 teeth (3%), of which 221 (66%) had PL. In the foreigner population, 10458 teeth were examined; RCT was present in 768 teeth (7%), of which 477 (62%) had PL. In Turkish and foreign patients, molars (58%) were the most commonly treated teeth with PL. The working length of RCT was adequate for 50% of teeth in the Turkish population and 48% of teeth in the Foreigner population. 44% of teeth in Turkish population and 32% in foreigners with periapical lesions had not undergone to RCT.
Conclusion: In both populations, molars were the most endodontic-treated teeth. The quality of RCT in an included young Turkish population and foreigners was in general underneath than appropriate standard.