OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical outcome of periapical endodontic surgery for teeth that can't be treated by nonsurgical endodontic methods.

METHODSSixty-two affected teeth were chosen for surgical endodontic treatment, of which 31 teeth underwent periapical curettage and the others were treated by root-end resection, retrograde preparation and filling. A radiography was taken immediately after surgery and was compared with those taken at 12 and 24 months. The results of two groups were analyzed using the chi2 test.

RESULTSThe success rate for retrograde filling was higher (85% after 12 months, 88% after 24 months) compared with that of periapical curettage (52% after 12 months, 45% after 24 months). The difference in success rate between the two groups was statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONSUltrasonic root-end preparation and retrograde filling is a good choice of treatment when the teeth can't be treated appropriately by nonsurgical treatment.