Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study

Dolu Kaya; Ulku Sermet Elbay; Gül Uçar; Seda Aydemir Mutlu

doi:10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670

Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: This study aims to radiographically examine the periapical condition of permanent first molars that have undergone root canal treatment in pediatric patients, the quality of their coronal restorations and root canal treatments, and the factors that affect treatment success. Methods: Panoramic radiographs of children aged 6–12 who visited the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Kocaeli University Faculty of Dentistry for routine oral examinations between 2020 and 2024 were examined. The 235 permanent first molars that had undergone root canal treatment in 196 patients were evaluated radiologically regarding the quality of root canal treatment (root canal filling level/homogeneity) and coronal restoration, as well as the periradicular health status. The data obtained were analyzed using the Chi-Square test, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Radiologically evaluated root canal-treated teeth were found to have diseased periapical tissues in 62.1% of cases. Root canal filling was inadequate in 65.1% of teeth, while 53.2% had non-homogeneous root canal filling. Forty-four point seven percent of the coronal restorations were evaluated as adequate. A significantly higher incidence of periapical disease was observed in the mandible. A statistically significant relationship was found between the quality of root canal treatment and the periradicular condition with coronal restoration (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this study evaluating pediatric patients, inadequate root canal filling quality and coronal restorations jeopardize the prognosis of root canal-treated teeth. Furthermore, further research is needed to support the literature because root canal treatment requires high technical precision and may be challenging to perform, especially in pediatric patients.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study received ethical approval (2400117097) from the Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Publication Ethics Committee.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Paedodontics, Endodontics

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Dolu Kaya ^*
0000-0001-8466-2391
Türkiye

Ulku Sermet Elbay
0000-0002-3239-6746
Türkiye

Gül Uçar
0000-0002-1064-207X
Türkiye

Seda Aydemir Mutlu
0000-0003-2299-2138
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 27, 2026

Submission Date

July 11, 2025

Acceptance Date

October 31, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA34FC72AL

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Kaya, D., Sermet Elbay, U., Uçar, G., & Aydemir Mutlu, S. (2026). Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study. Selcuk Dental Journal, 13(1), 74-78. https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670

AMA

1.Kaya D, Sermet Elbay U, Uçar G, Aydemir Mutlu S. Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study. Selcuk Dent J. 2026;13(1):74-78. doi:10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670

Chicago

Kaya, Dolu, Ulku Sermet Elbay, Gül Uçar, and Seda Aydemir Mutlu. 2026. “Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study”. Selcuk Dental Journal 13 (1): 74-78. https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670.

EndNote

Kaya D, Sermet Elbay U, Uçar G, Aydemir Mutlu S (April 1, 2026) Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study. Selcuk Dental Journal 13 1 74–78.

IEEE

[1]D. Kaya, U. Sermet Elbay, G. Uçar, and S. Aydemir Mutlu, “Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study”, Selcuk Dent J, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 74–78, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670.

ISNAD

Kaya, Dolu - Sermet Elbay, Ulku - Uçar, Gül - Aydemir Mutlu, Seda. “Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study”. Selcuk Dental Journal 13/1 (April 1, 2026): 74-78. https://doi.org/10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670.

JAMA

1.Kaya D, Sermet Elbay U, Uçar G, Aydemir Mutlu S. Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study. Selcuk Dent J. 2026;13:74–78.

MLA

Kaya, Dolu, et al. “Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study”. Selcuk Dental Journal, vol. 13, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 74-78, doi:10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670.

Vancouver

1.Dolu Kaya, Ulku Sermet Elbay, Gül Uçar, Seda Aydemir Mutlu. Evaluation of Periapical Health of Root Canal-Treated Permanent First Molars in Children: A Retrospective Study. Selcuk Dent J. 2026 Apr. 1;13(1):74-8. doi:10.15311/selcukdentj.1739670