HEALING OF CHRONIC PERIAPICAL PERIODONTITIS IN THE ELDERLY: IS IT AGE REALATED?

Abstract

Endodontic retreatment in elderly patients for healing periapical periodontitis is more often required. Because of the increasing number of older adults in the population and the desideratum to maintain natural teeth for mastication and esthetics, endodontic treatment outcome in elderly people has to become predictable. Our clinical case highlights that even large, multiple periapical periodontitis can be healed in elderly people. Eliminating microbial infection by correct cleaning and shaping and preventing reinfection by proper root canal filling lead to a decrease in the size or even total healing of apical pathosis in relatively healthy elder patients, no matter the age.

Keywords

• elderly patients
• endodontics
• periapical periodontitis