Objective: To study of the curative effect of teeth with chronic apical periodontitis in elderly people and the usage of assessment index.
Methods: Fifty eight teeth from 49 elderly and 50 teeth from 40 young patients were reexamined, which had received root canal therapy or resinifying therapy 2 to 9 years ago. The curative effects were evaluated based on clinical examination and radiographic assessment using periapical index (PAI).
Results: Statistically no significant difference for the overall healing rates between the two groups. But when the reexamination period was longer than 4 years, the healing rates in elderly people (58.0%) were significantly lower than those of the young people (87.1%). The treatment method and the size of the periapical lesion had significant influence on the results of the elderly people, whereas no influence on the young patients. According to our data, deep periodontal pocket and occlusal trauma were the main reasons of failure.
Conclusion: The long-term curative effects of teeth with chronic apical periodotitis in elderly is lower than that of the young people. The PAI system is worth of utilizing popularly in the clinical dentistry.