Incidence of Apical Periodontitis and Frequency of Root Canal Treatments in Geriatric and Medically Compromised Patients in Jammu Population

Abstract

Background: With the increase in life expectancy, there has been rise in cases of apical periodontitis. The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of apical periodontitis and root canal treatment among the elderly and medically compromised patients in the Jammu population.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 150 elderly patients with deep carious teeth of both genders. An equal number of healthy subjects was also recruited. Patients were divided into two groups: Group I was medically compromised patients with apical periodontitis and Group II was healthy subjects with apical periodontitis. Periapical status was scored based on the periapical index.
Results: Group I had 95 and Group II had 60 patients with more than 1 periapical lesion. Group II had 110 and Group I had 48 patients with 1 periapical lesion with at least one obturated tooth. The difference was significant (P < 0.05). There was a non-significant difference between Groups I and II with more than 1 periapical lesions with at least one obturated tooth (P > 0.05). More than 1 periapical lesion was seen more in renal and respiratory patients (45), 1 periapical lesion with at least one obturated tooth was seen more one diabetic patients (22). The difference was non-significant (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: The authors found that medically compromised patients have more periapical lesions with radiographic evidence. They have a lower frequency of obturated teeth than healthy subjects.