A Survival Analysis of Different Pulp Therapies in Decayed Primary Teeth

Abstract

Objective:

To identify the clinical and radiographic conditions associated with failure of pulp therapy in primary teeth through a survival analysis.

Material and Methods:

A total of 1000 records of children assisted at the pediatric dentistry clinic of the Federal University of Parana, Brazil, from the years 2000 to 2010, were analyzed. The mean evaluation time was 10.61 months (minimum/maximum: 1/28) from the report of pulp therapy. The different types of treatments analyzed included indirect pulp treatment (IPT), direct pulp treatment (DPT), pulpotomy and pulpectomy. The Kaplan-Meyer method and log-rank test were used for the survival analysis. Exodontia was considered as the outcome variable and censors included: traumatic tooth loss, presence of the tooth in the oral cavity and physiologic tooth exfoliation.

Results:

A total of 122 records reporting pulp therapy in the primary teeth were selected. From this, 16 teeth (13.12%) were extracted. Survival analysis showed that pulpectomy presented lower survival rates when compared to conservative therapies (p=0.0297). Teeth with furcal lesions and pathological root resorption before pulp therapy had lower survival rates when compared to those that did not present these conditions (P=0.006). Presence of fistula and abscess after pulp therapy were also associated with lower survival rates (P=0.0062 and 0.0143, respectively).

Conclusion:

Signals of pulp necrosis were associated to lower survival rates in primary teeth submitted to pulp therapy.

Keywords:
Root Canal Therapy; Tooth, Primary; Survival Analysis

Introduction

Despite advances in oral health promotion, dental caries affecting primary teeth is still prevalent and remains a challenge for oral health professionals. The global burden of disease study, which includes three independent systematic reviews reveals that oral health has not improved in the last 25 years and the rate of untreated caries in primary teeth was 8.2 in 1990 and 7.8 in 2015[¹]. A cohort study with 163 Brazilian children aged three to four years old showed that caries progression can have a negative impact on oral health-related quality of life [²].

Pulp therapy plays a major role in preserving primary tooth affected with dental caries [³]. The choice of the appropriate approach depends on the diagnostic of the pulp condition based on clinical examination and radiographic findings. Clinically, symptoms such as thermal or periapical sensitivity, edema and pain are observed. In the radiographic examination, evidence of internal or external resorption of the root, periapical or inter-radicular radiolucent areas, irregular root calcification or incomplete root formation are evaluated [⁴]. Actual recommendations, supported by evidence-based dentistry, indicate less invasive carious lesions management [⁵]. The partial removal of carious tissues prioritizes preserving healthy and remineralize tissues to maintain pulpal health and to avoid restorative cycle [⁶]. A randomized controlled trial using cone-beam computed tomography conducted on 94 children aged 7-12 years showed success rates on 57 primary molar teeth submitted to indirect pulp therapy. After 1 year of follow-up, there was a good prognosis in 96.8% teeth according to the clinical criteria of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry [⁷].

A total of 42 primary first molars in children 4 to 7 years of age with a history of spontaneous pain, mobility and furcation and periapical lesion as radiographic signal were submitted to endodontic therapy. The material used was calcium hydroxide and an iodoform base. A success rate of 85.7% was observed defined as an absence of symptoms and pathological radiographic signs, with clinical and radiographic follow-up of 6 months [⁸].

Some recent studies identified factors related to failure rate in pulp therapies as a result of carious lesions through a survival analysis [⁹]. A study that aimed to evaluate the survival rates of indirect pulp therapy compared to two different pulpotomy medicaments, formocresol and ferric sulfate, was conducted in primary molars. After three-years follow up, indirect pulp therapy had 96.2% of survival rate, formocresol pulpotomy had a 65% survival rate and pulpotomy with ferric sulfate, 62.9% survival rate [¹⁰]. The survival probability of partial caries removal was verified in 284 cases with high caries experience. Previous restorative treatment in anterior teeth, restorative failures and teeth with visible plaque were related to failure [¹¹].

This study aimed to evaluate clinical and radiographic conditions that interfere in the survival of primary teeth submitted to different types of pulp therapies using a survival analysis. The results of this research will allow a possible prediction of the prognosis of the primary tooth in relation to some specific clinical and radiographic conditions.

Material and Methods

Study Design and Sample

This is a retrospective cohort study. All dental records of children aged 4 to 11 years old between 2000 and 2010 at the Pediatric Dentistry Clinic of the Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil, were analyzed, totaling 1000 records. Only those with a history of pulp therapy in primary teeth due to carious involvement were selected. The different types of treatments analyzed included indirect pulp treatment (IPT), direct pulp treatment (DPT), pulpotomy and pulpectomy. The evaluation unit was the tooth. If a child had more than one tooth undergoing pulp therapy, all teeth were included in the analysis. Incomplete dental records or teeth with radiographic images that made proper radiographic analysis impossible were excluded. Clinical aspects such as the presence of spontaneous pain, abscess or fistula, were obtained through information contained in the patient’s records.

The choice of the type of treatment followed the protocol for pulp therapies in primary teeth of the Pediatric Dentistry Department of the Federal University of Paraná based on the guidelines of the American Dental Association's Guidelines on Pulp Therapy for Primary and Immature Permanent Teeth [¹²]. Indirect pulp capping was performed on teeth with no clinical signs and symptoms of pulp necrosis or irreversible pulpitis. The affected dentin tissue was maintained, and a thin layer of calcium hydroxide cement was applied over the remaining tissue. The cavity was restored with glass ionomer cement. The direct pulp capping is indicated in teeth with clinical and radiographic signs that indicate pulp vitality and pulp exposure. The pulp exposure site was protected with calcium hydroxide cement and the teeth restored with glass ionomer cement. Pulpotomy was performed in cases of pulp exposure with presence of caries affected dentin, with formocresol being the substance of choice. In primary teeth with necrotic pulp tissue or irreversible pulpitis, pulpectomy was the procedure of choice. The root canals were debrided and irrigated with one percent sodium hypochlorite for disinfection. Instrumentation of the root was performed by subtracting 2mm of the radiographic root length. After the canals were dried, a iodoform-based paste (Pasta de Guedes)[¹³] was used to fill the canals. The tooth was restored with a temporary restoration with zinc/oxide eugenol. The root canal was filled with a calcium hydroxide and iodoform based paste Teeth with signs of necrosis (i.e. abscess fistula and / or pathological resorption less than 2/3 of the root) were submitted to a new endodontic treatment. All clinical procedures involving pulp therapy in primary teeth were performed in one session, under local anesthesia and with the use of a rubber dam. The clinical procedures were performed by undergraduate students of the dentistry course of the Universidade Federal do Paraná. All the students received theoretical training prior to the execution of the procedures and were supervised during all stages by one of the researchers (JVNBM).

Data Collection

After the selection of the patient’s records, aspects such as the age of the patient at the time of pulp therapy, gender, modality of pulp therapy were evaluated. The following clinical characteristics were observed before and after pulp therapy: presence of pain, abscess or fistula associated with the treated tooth. The radiographic characteristics observed before and after pulp therapy were: presence of radiolucent lesion in the periapical or furcation area, presence of radiographic signs of pathological root resorption and degree of rhizolysis (1/3 or 2/3 of the root). Clinical and radiographic conditions prior to pulp therapy included any reports in the dental record immediately prior to the completion of pulpal therapy. Analysis of clinical conditions following pulp therapy included reporting within the study period or immediately prior to the completion of the exodontia when necessary. The last radiographic examination was considered to be performed within the study period or just before the exodontia.

For the statistical analysis, the age of the child at the moment of the pulp therapy was categorized according to the median value in: ≤7 years and >7 years. The type of pulp therapy was categorized as conservative (including indirect pulp treatment, direct pulp treatment and pulpotomy) and non-conservative (pulpectomy). The type of material used was categorized into: calcium hydroxide, formocresol and iodoform pastes. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival curves were assessed by the log-rank test. It was considered as a reference category situation that could contribute to the longer time of permanence of the dental element in the oral cavity. Exodontia of the tooth as a consequence of pulp therapy failure was considered as a failure. The censored observations were considered when there was a loss of the element due to dental trauma, teeth that remained in the oral cavity until the end of the study and natural exfoliation of the tooth. The mean evaluation time was 10.61 months (minimum/maximum:1/28) from the report of pulp therapy.

Data Analysis

Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using Cox proportional hazards regression method to estimate the hazard ratios and the respective confidence interval. A stepwise forward selection model was used. All independent variables with p<0.20 in the univariate analysis were selected and those which were significant (p<0.05) were kept in the final model after being fitted. The data were performed by the STATA program version 12.0 (College Station, TX, USA). The level of significance adopted for the analyzes was 5%.

Ethical Aspects

This study was carried out after approval by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR) (Process No. 50017115.9.0000.0102). The present study was conducted in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration (2008). Permission to collect patient data was obtained by an informed consent signed by the children's guardian before treatment.

Results

From the 1000 dental records evaluated, 125 were selected with reports of pulp therapy. Three dental records were excluded due to the poor quality of the radiographic images, totaling 122 records to be analyzed. Each dental record showed only one primary tooth submitted to pulp therapy, totaling 122 teeth. A total of 38 teeth (31.2%) were submitted to indirect pulp capping 16, (13.1%) direct pulp capping, 11 (9%) pulpotomy and 57 (46.7%) pulpectomy (Figure 1).

Figure 1
Fluxogram of the records.

Sixty-four records were from female patients (52.5%). The mean age was 7.2 years, minimum 4 years and maximum 11 years. Of the evaluated teeth, 17 (13.9%) were incisors, 46 (37.7%) first molars, 57 (46.7%) second molars and only two canines (1.7%). The total time of evaluation of the study was 28 months.

Of the 122 teeth evaluated, 16 (13.2%) were submitted to exodontia, 28 (22.9%) exfoliated naturally and 78 (63.9%) were still present in the oral cavity at the end of the study period. There was no loss due to trauma and no case of endodontic retreatment. 14 (87.5%) of the 16 teeth had a premature loss. Exodontia was performed within a period of 10 months. Regarding the type of pulp therapy, two teeth were submitted to direct pulp therapy, three to pulpotomy and twelve to pulpectomy. There was no history of exodontia in cases of indirect pulp therapy. In relation to the tooth, 14 (87.5%) were primary molars and 2 (12.5%) were incisors.

Teeth submitted to pulpectomy had a lower survival rate when compared to teeth submitted to more conservative therapies, as shown on Table 1.

Table 1
Survey analysis of teeth submitted to pulp therapy according to child's age, type of therapy, type of material used and teeth group.

Variables	N (%)	Failures N (%)	Mean for Survival Time CI (95%)	Survival Rate (in %)	p-value
Age (in Years)
≤ 7	63 (51.64)	8 (6.56)	24.53 (22.30-26.76)	85.56	0.6505
> 7	59 (48.36)	8 (6.56)	22.71 (20.70-25.35)	54.76
Type of Therapy
Conservative	65 (53.28)	5 (4.10)	27.00 (25.63-28.36)	81.28	0.0297
Radical	57 (46.72)	11 (9.02)	20.95 (18.23-23.67)	74.43
Group of Teeth
Incisors and Canines	19 (15.57)	2 (1.64)	25.16 (21.43-28.88)	88.24	0.5678
First Molars	46 (37.71)	8 (6.56)	22.37 (19.45-25.29)	78.51
Second Molars	57 (46.72)	6 (4.92)	22.32 (20.41-24.22)	43.53

• ǂLog-rank test; Failures were considered as the exodontia of the tooth; CI= Confidence Interval; Significant values marked in bold.

ǂLog-rank test; Failures were considered as the exodontia of the tooth; CI= Confidence Interval; Significant values marked in bold.

Radiographic findings of furcation lesions and pathological root resorption before pulp treatment were associated with a lower survival rate when compared to teeth that did not present these radiographic findings. The survival rate was also inversely proportional to the degree of pathological root resorption, i.e., the higher the degree of pathological root resorption of the affected tooth before pulp therapy the lower was the survival rate (Table 2).

Table 2
Survey analysis of teeth submitted to pulp therapy according to clinical and radiographic factors before pulp therapy.

Variables	N (%)	Failures N (%)	Mean for survival time CI (95%)	Survival Rate (in %)	p-value
Pain
Yes	12 (9.84)	3 (2.46)	15.40 (10.39-20.41)	57.29	0.3935
No	5 (4.10)	2 (1.64)	9.75 (4.60-14.91)	50.00
Fistula
Yes	13 (10.66)	5 (4.10)	17.26 (10.89-23.63)	52.75	0.2382
No	4 (3.28)	0 (0.0)	**	100
Abscess
Yes	8 (6.56)	4 (3.28)	10.70 (6.47-14.93)	36.46	0.1626
No	5 (4.10)	0 (0.0)	**	100
Furcal Lesion
Yes	45 (36.89)	11 (9.02)	20.36 (17.10-23.62)	48.11	0.0065
No	58 (47.54)	3 (2.46)	23.70 (22.27-25.12)	92.32
Periapical Lesion
Yes	8 (6.56)	2 (1.64)	10.00 (6.40-13.60)	75.00	0.0879
No	11 (9.02)	0 (0.0)	**	100
Pathological Root Resorption
Yes	46 (37.71)	11 (9.02)	20.58 (17.35-23.82)	69.71	0.0040
No	76 (62.29)	5 (4.10)	26.00 (24.32-27.67)	80.20
Degree of Rhizolysis
No Reabsorption	75 (61.48)	5 (4.10)	25.97 (24.27-27.66)	80.11	0.0006
Up to 1/3 Root	28 (22.95)	4 (3.28)	23.13 (19.67-26.58)	81.62
Up to 2/3 Root	19 (15.57)	7 (5.74)	13.98 (9.97-17.98)	54.04

• *Values less than 122 are due to lack of data for this variable; ǂLog-rank test; Failures were considered as the exodontia of the tooth; Significant values marked in bold;
• ^**
  Mean for survival time not computed because all cases are censored.

Figures 2 and 3 show the survival curves in the total sample and stratified by pulpotomy and pulpectomy, respectively. Although the number of teeth undergoing extraction was higher in the pulpectomy therapy group (n=11) compared to the pulpotomy therapy group (n=3), the difference was not significant (log-rank test; p=0.7155).

Figure 2
Survival curve associated with failure of pulp therapy in the total sample.

Figure 3
Survival curve associated with failure of pulp therapy in primary teeth stratified by pulpotomy and pulpectomy.

Table 3 shows the survival analysis of teeth submitted to pulp therapy according to the clinical and radiographic findings after treatment. Only four cases reported a history of pain in the dental records, making it impossible to analyze possible associations with this variable. Presence of fistula and abscess after treatment had a lower survival rate when compared to teeth that did not present these events. Similarly, furcation lesion and pathological root resorption after pulp therapy also presented a lower survival rate when compared to the elements that did not present these radiographic findings. The degree of pathological root resorption after pulp therapy also influenced the survival rate.

Table 3
Survey analysis of teeth submitted to pulp therapy according to clinical and radiographic factors after pulp therapy.

Variables	N (%)	Failures N (%)	Mean for survival time CI (95%)	Survival Rate (in %)	p-value
Fistula					0.0062
Yes	16 (13.12)	4 (3.28)	20.19 (14.66-25.72)	0
No	1 (0.82)	1 (0.82)	1.00 (1.00-1.00)	65.48
Abscess
Yes	13 (10.66)	4 (3.28)	12.42 (8.96-15.88)	0	0.0143
No	1 (0.82)	1 (0.82)	1.00 (1.00-1.00)	51.28
Furcal Lesion
Yes	44 (36.07)	11 (9.02)	20.19 (16.85-23.52)	47.50	0.0046
No	59 (48.36)	3 (2.46)	23.73 (22.33-25.12)	92.52
Periapical Lesion
Yes	8 (6.56)	2 (1.64)	10.00 (6.40-13.60)	75.00	0.0879
No	11 (9.02)	0 (0.0)	**	100
Pathological Root Resorption
Yes	49 (40.16)	12 (9.84)	20.44 (17.28-23.59)	69,04	0.0014
No	73 (59.84)	4 (3.28)	26.30 (24.71-27.89)	81.38
Degree of Rhizolysis
No Reabsorption	71 (58.20)	3 (2.46)	26.65 (25.19-28.11)	82.49	0.0006
Up to 1/3 Root	30 (24.59)	6 (4.92)	21.43 (17.52-25.34)	74.39
Up to 2/3 Root	21 (17.21)	7 (5.74)	17.82 (12.99-22.65)	59.93

• *Values less than 122 are due to lack of data for this variable; ǂLog-rank test, Failures were considered as the exodontia of the tooth; Significant values marked in bold;
• ^**
  Mean for survival time not computed because all cases are censored.

Table 4 shows the results of Cox's proportional-hazards regression. Radical therapies had a 6.93-greater risk of extraction compared to more conservative therapies. Regarding clinical or radiographic characteristics before pulp therapy, teeth with furcal lesion, pathological root resorption, or up to 2/3 degree of rhizolysis were at higher risk of failure after pulp therapy. Similarly, teeth with furcal lesions, pathological root resorption, or up to 2/3 degree of rhizolysis after pulp therapies were at higher risk for extraction due to pulp therapy failure. No variable remained independent associated with pulp therapy failure in the multivariate analysis.

Table 4
Cox´s proportional-hazards regression associated with failure of pulp therapy and the interested variables.

Variables	HR (95%CI)	p-value
Type of Therapy
Conservative	Ref.
Radical	6.93 (1.57-30.71)	0.011
Before Pulp Therapy
Furcal Lesion
No	Ref.
Yes	4.96 (1.38-17.38)	0.014
Pathological Root Resorption
No	Ref.
Yes	4.17 (1.44-12.04)	0.008
Degree of Rhizolysis
No Reabsorption	Ref.
Up To 1/3 Root	2.27 (0.61-8.47)	0.221
Up To 2/3 Root	7.30 (2.25-23.79)	0.001
After Pulp Therapy
Fistula
No	Ref.
Yes	16.00 (1.07-255.80)	0.050
Abscess
No	Ref.
Yes	13.00 (0.81-207.84)	0.070
Furcal Lesion
No	Ref.
Yes	5.26 (1.46-18.96)	0.011
Pathological Root Resorption
No	Ref.
Yes	5.21 (1.67-16.24)	0.004
Degree of Rhizolysis
No Reabsorption	Ref.
Up To 1/3 Root	5.87 (1.46-23.64)	0.013
Up To 2/3 Root	9.39 (2.42-36.44)	0.001

• HR = Hazard Ratio; 95%CI= 95% Confidence Interval; Ref.= Reference Category. Significant values marked in bold.

Discussion

Of the different types of pulp therapies evaluated in this study, pulpectomy was associated with a lower survival rate when compared to more conservative pulp therapies such as direct and indirect pulp capping and pulpotomies. Pulpectomy-treated teeth had a 6.93 higher risk of failure when compared to more conservative therapies. This fact refers to the treatment itself, which presents numerous challenges for its execution. For the pulpectomy to have a favorable clinical and radiographic prognosis, effective cleaning of the root canals and removal of the bacteria and their by-products. However, the complex anatomy of the root canals of the primary teeth compromises their adequate cleaning, leaving remaining microorganisms and necrotic pulp tissue, leading to the development of pathological root resorption, contributing to the failure of this type of treatment [¹⁴,¹⁵].

In the case of therapies considered more conservative in the primary teeth with pulp vitality, five of the 16 teeth with premature loss were submitted to direct pulp capping or pulpotomy. There was no history of unsuccessful in cases of indirect pulp capping within the evaluation period. This is an interesting result since, of the 122 teeth submitted to pulp therapy, 38 (31.2%) were submitted to indirect pulp capping. In a recent systematic review and meta-analysis, where success rates for indirect pulp protection, direct pulp protection and pulpotomy were evaluated, indirect pulpal protection was associated with a success rate of 94.4% over a 24-hour period month of evaluation [¹⁶].

Considering the clinical and radiographic conditions associated with failure, teeth that presented radiographically furcal lesion before pulp therapy had a lower survival rate when compared to teeth that did not present this condition (HR=4.96; CI95%: 1.38-17.38; p=0.014). The presence of radiographic signs indicating pulp necrosis, such as lesions and pathological root resorption before pulp treatment may interfere directly or indirectly with the repair process after pulp treatment [¹⁷]. In a study of 348 primary teeth, signs of pathological resorption and furcal lesions prior to treatment were associated with an unfavorable prognosis for successful pulp therapy [¹⁸]. The success in the pulp treatment of teeth without furcation lesions was 100% versus 84% in those who had this radiographic condition [¹⁹].

Likewise, teeth that presented radiographically furcal lesions after pulp therapy also showed a lower survival rate when compared to those without this condition (HR=5.26; CI95%: 1.46-18.96; p=0.011). The presence of bacteria plays an important role in the onset, progression and persistence of apical lesions, because bacteria in infected root canals and peri-root tissues can invade and reside within the dentin and cement surrounding areas, thus the microorganisms can remain viable even after the biomechanical preparation and irrigation of the root canal system of the primary teeth [²⁰]. In addition to these aspects, the radiographic evolution with elimination or reduction of rarefaction area is suggestive of a successful endodontic therapy [²¹].

The degree of rhizolysis before pulp therapy was also an aspect that was associated with the survival rate of primary teeth submitted to pulp therapy. Although the recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry is that endodontic treatment be performed on primary teeth with pathological root resorption of a maximum of 1/3 root length [¹²], in 15.6% of cases pulp therapy was performed with 2/3 pathological root resorption with the intention of maintaining the tooth in the oral cavity for a period close to its physiological exfoliation. In conditions in which the teeth present up to half of the root, the endodontic treatment is able to maintain it in healthy conditions in the oral cavity [¹⁷].

All teeth that had abscesses and fistulas after endodontic treatment were lost early. The presence of fistulas and abscesses are signs of infectious processes and the non-regression of these clinical characteristics can occur due to the persistence of microorganisms in the root canals after its chemical and mechanical preparation, which can lead to a new infection, thus disfavoring the prognosis of pulp therapies [²²]. In the Cox proportional hazards regression, these variables had borderline significance, probably because of the small sample size.

Although the results of this study showed a lower survival of teeth submitted to radical root canal treatment, the indication of this therapy is justified by the possibility of maintenance of the primary tooth in the oral cavity in healthy and non-pathological conditions until its exfoliation. Early loss of the primary tooth can lead to loss of space, phonetic problems and negatively impact the quality of life of children due to unfavorable aesthetics, impaired eating that can lead to nutritional problems, changes in speech development, and contribute to establish harmful habits and integrity of dental arches [²³,²⁴].

Because of the relatively small sample size, the multivariate analysis showed that no variables were independently associated with failure after pulp therapies. Therefore, it is suggested that this is an important aspect and needs further investigation, using a larger sample, allowing more accurate data and reducing false negative results.

Conclusion

The results of this study showed that pulpectomies, clinical and radiographic signs of pulpal necrosis as well as the degree of rhizolysis were associated with a lower survival rate. These data emphasize the importance of well-defined strategies for the preservation of primary teeth submitted to pulp therapy.

• Financial Support
  None.

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Edited by

Academic Editors: Alessandro Leite Cavalcanti and Wilton Wilney Nascimento Padilha

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 Apr 2020
• Date of issue
  2020

History

• Received
  16 June 2019
• Accepted
  20 Jan 2020
• Published
  24 Feb 2020