Effect of the Gap between Cemented Posts and Remaining Gutta-Percha on the Clinical Outcome of Endodontically Treated Teeth Managed by Undergraduate Dental Students: A Prospective Study with 4 Years of Follow-Up

It is common to detect a gap between the apical portion of post and most coronal part gutta-percha in root canal during core treatment endodontically treated teeth. may compromise seal that material provides filling, leading leakage, which often thought be one causes for failure endodontic treatment. The prevention leakage achieve complete its effect on periapical health teeth long term clinical research remains unanswered. Post were provided 100 patients by undergraduate students year 2016–2017. A total 70 all called back Prosthodontic Clinic follow-up care after 4 years assess result terms post-operative residual gutta-percha. cemented posts divided into three groups depending space end remaining gutta-percha: group I revealed no gaps, II gaps >0.1 1 mm, III more than mm. index (PAI) was used determine condition each tooth. Chi-square test evaluating data, p-value 0.05 considered statistically significant. 28.6% found diseased while 71.4% normal. In I, 90% II, 66.7% evaluated as normal; however, III, 41.2% diseased. restored with core, section associated greater prevalence disease. achieved clinically acceptable outcome