AIM: To evaluate treatment outcome after using a resin composite (Retroplast, RP) in combination with a dentine-bonding agent (GLUMA) as root-end filling material after 1 year as well as after more than 5 years (final examination). Also, the influence of various pre-, intra- and postoperative factors on the treatment outcome was studied.

METHODOLOGY: All patients (87) undergoing root-end resection consecutively treated by root-end filling with RP on an incisor, canine, pre-molar, or first molar (87 teeth, 118 roots) were initially enrolled in the study. RP was applied on the entire resected surface that was prepared to a slightly concave shape and after conditioning with EDTA and GLUMA. The treatment outcome involving subjective, clinical and radiographic parameters was evaluated after 1 year and at the final examination. A total of 27 patients (36 roots) were excluded from the study because of unavailability of follow-up (19) and extraction of the operated tooth for reasons other than failed surgery (8). Consequently, 60 patients (82 roots) were included in the final material. The mean follow-up period at the final examination was 8 years (range: 6.5-9 years).

RESULTS: The radiographic evaluation at the final examination revealed that 77%, 5%, 7% and 11% of the treated roots were characterized by complete, incomplete, uncertain and unsatisfactory healing, respectively. A total of 95% of the roots classified as completely healed at the 1-year control were also completely healed at the final examination. Two roots (5%) showing complete healing at the 1-year control revealed unsatisfactory healing at the final examination because of displaced or lost RP-filling. Moreover, 60% of the roots with uncertain healing at the 1-year control demonstrated complete or incomplete healing at the final examination. The classification according to subjective, clinical and radiographic parameters revealed that 78% of the teeth were characterized by a successful treatment outcome at the final examination. Evaluation of the influence of various pre-, intra- and postoperative factors on the treatment outcome revealed that the radiographic classification at the final examination was exclusively influenced by the radiographic classification at the 1-year control (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The present long-term study indicates that RP can be used for root-end filling with a successful treatment outcome.