ABSTRACT
To identify and compare papers describing the clinical and radiographic success rates of nonsurgical retreatment of root-filled teeth with those of teeth treated by surgical endodontics to determine which modality offers more favourable outcomes. Systematic review and meta-analysis using the Patient Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcome framework. Electronic databases were supplemented by the handpicking of journal articles from recognised endodontic journals. Inclusion criteria for this review were articles from peer-reviewed journals published in English from 1970 to 2008 that reported clinical and/or radiographic outcomes data for nonsurgical endodontic retreatment or endodontic surgery. Inclusion criteria also included studies that reported follow-up data for a minimum of 25 teeth and a minimum 2-year mean follow-up period. Surgical endodontics specifically describes a procedure combining root-end resection, apical curettage, and root-end filling. Only one article meeting the criteria for inclusion made a direct comparison between endodontic surgery and nonsurgical retreatment.
