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Dammaschke T, Steven D et al. J Endodon 2003; 29: 638–643

Conventional biomechanical root canal treatment was performed by dental students for 190 teeth in 144 patients, aged 18-74 yrs during 1987-8. A requirement for inclusion in this study was a minimum of 10 yrs' follow-up. Half the teeth had one canal, 1/5 had 2, 1/4 had 3 and the remainder had 4 canals treated. About 1/4 had apical lesions. Two fifths of the teeth were filled to within 1 mm of the apex, and another 2/5 to within a further 1 mm, 1/10 were more than 2 mm underfilled and 1/15 were overfilled.

One tooth in 7 was extracted during the follow-up, and tooth retention was used as the success criterion. Survival was not affected significantly by patient age, gender, jaw, tooth type or the number of root canals in the tooth. However, a pre-existing apical lesion reduced the 11 yr survival rate from 87% to 64%. Sealing with phosphate or glass ionomer also reduced survival, as did underfilling by 2 mm, or overfilling.