Radiographic Evaluation of Periapical Healing Following Single vs Multiple Visit Root Canal Treatment: A PAI Based Study

Introduction: This randomized controlled clinical trial compared the radiographic periapical healing outcomes of single-visit versus multiple-visit root canal treatments for teeth with apical periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with single-rooted teeth diagnosed with primary apical periodontitis were randomly allocated to either a single-visit (n = 15) or a multiple-visit (n = 15) group. Periapical healing was radiographically evaluated using the Periapical Index (PAI) score at baseline and at 6 and 12-month follow-up appointments. Results: The results showed no statistically significant difference in the radiographic healing rates between the two groups at either follow-up period. The success rates (PAI score ≤2) were 93.3% for the single-visit group and 86.7% for the multiple-visit group at 12 months ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that both treatment protocols are equally effective in achieving periapical healing, challenging the necessity of an inter-appointment intracanal medicament.