Abstract: To evaluate radiographically the technical quality of root canal treatment performed by endodontists among an adult population attending the dental clinic in Dongguan, China between 2012 and 2013. Methods: A random sample of 1600 records of patients who received dental treatment at Jianli Stomatological Hospital of Dongguan between 2012 and 2013 was examined. A total of 1391 endodontically treated teeth with 2306 root canals in 1050 dental patients were evaluated. For each root-filled tooth, at least three periapical radiographs were examined: preoperative, working length determination and postoperative. The length, density and taper of root fillings were recorded. The length of root fillings was recorded as adequate, short or overfilled based on their relationship with the radiographic apex. Density and taper of fillings were recorded as adequate or inadequate based on the presence of voids and the uniform tapering of the fillings, respectively. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the adequacy of root canal filling in teeth with different location, position or curvature. Results: Eighty-seven percent, 69.8% and 75.8% of the root fillings had adequate length, density or taper, respectively. And only 57.8% of the root fillings fulfilled these criteria at the same time. The relationship between the length, density or taper of the root fillings and the canal curvature was statistically significant (P<0.001). Adequate fillings were found more in maxillary teeth than in mandibular teeth (P<0.001), in anterior teeth compared to posterior teeth (P<0.001), and in straight canals compared to curved canals (P<0.001). The highest percentage of adequate root fillings was found in maxillary incisors (78.8%). Conclusion: The acceptability of root fillings among an adult Chinese population performed by endodontists was found to be more than 50%.

Key words: Root canal treatment , Root canal obturation, Treatment outcome