Apical periodontitis - Follow-up & prognosis

Teeth with the original diagnosis of apical periodontitis are normally controlled one year after root filling, clinically and radiographically. Annual controls are continued until complete healing can be registered. Usually this takes place during the first two years, but follow up is continued up to four years. If no healing can be detected, retreatment is to be considered. The prognosis of the treatment of apical periodontitis is fairly good, between 70 and 90 %. Microbial infection at the beginning of the treatment is the main reason for lower prognosis than in pulpitis, e.g.