Title The Effect Of Root Canal Treatment Of A Primary Tooth On The Permanent Tooth
Clinical Question What are the long-term effects of RCT in primary molars on the development and eruption of their permanent successors?
Clinical Bottom Line No association was found between root canal treatment in primary teeth and defects in the permanent successor. (See Comments on the CAT below)
Best Evidence  
PubMed ID Author / Year Patient Group Study type
(level of evidence)
20409202Moskovitz/2010194 patients aged 5-11 years with pulpectomies on primary molarsRetrospective study
Key resultsThe authors stated that “eight (3.3%) of the 242 primary molars presented with a new radiolucent defect or enlargement of existing periapical radiolucency. Of the 106 molars followed until eruption of the permanent successor, none had radiographic pathological signs. Of 17 permanent teeth evaluated clinically, three were erupted into a rotated alignment, and one premolar presented with a hypocalcified defect in the enamel.” Therefore, no association was found between root canal treatment in primary teeth and defects in the permanent successor.
Evidence Search Root canal therapy and primary molars and successor
Comments on
The Evidence
Long-term retrospective study, no studies found with high levels of evidence on effects of root canal treatment in primary molars on the permanent molar.
Applicability In a patient with a necrotic primary molar that needs to be retained with a permanent successor present but not erupted at that time.
Specialty (Endodontics) (General Dentistry) (Pediatric Dentistry)
Keywords root canal therapy and primary teeth, deciduous teeth, permanent teeth
ID# 803
Date of submission 03/30/2011
E-mail browned@livemail.uthscsa.edu
Author Eric Brown
Co-author(s)
Co-author(s) e-mail
Faculty mentor Peter T. Gakunga, BDS, MS, PhD
Faculty mentor e-mail GAKUNKA@uthscsa.edu
   
Basic Science Rationale
(Mechanisms that may account for and/or explain the clinical question, i.e. is the answer to the clinical question consistent with basic biological, physical and/or behavioral science principles, laws and research?)
None available
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Comments and Evidence-Based Updates on the CAT
(FOR PRACTICING DENTISTS', FACULTY, RESIDENTS and/or STUDENTS COMMENTS ON PUBLISHED CATs)
by Jane Chadwick, Michael Hosking (San Antonio, TX) on 08/08/2013
We completed a thorough PubMed search in August 2013. There is no new evidence on this topic. A prospective study by Coll et al. in 1996 (PMID 8668572 ) found that 20% of succedaneous teeth erupted ectopically following primary tooth pulpectomies. Similar to the CAT, Coll's study found that pulpectomies did not appear to affect underlying permanent tooth formation. It should be noted that root canal treatment in primary teeth requires modifications from traditional root canal therapy on permanent teeth.