Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: July | Volume: 13 | Issue: 7 | Pages: 7-12
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230702
The Impact of Smoking on the Success of Root Canal Treatment: A Retrospective Analysis
Gouthami Miryala1, Arun Kumar Dasari2, Santosh R Patil3, Mohammad Khursheed Alam4
1BDS, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India
2MDS, SVS Institute of Dental Sciences, Mahabubnagar, Telangana, India
3MDS, PhD, Guru Gobind Singh College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Burhanpur, India
4PhD, Orthodontics Unit, College of Dentistry, Jouf University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Corresponding Author: Santosh R Patil
ABSTRACT
Background: Smoking is known to have detrimental effects on oral health, including delayed wound healing and increased risk of periodontal disease. The influence of smoking on the success of root canal treatment remains unclear. This retrospective analysis aims to investigate the impact of smoking on the outcomes of root canal treatment and provide evidence-based insights for clinical decision-making.
Methods: Patient records from a dental clinic were retrospectively reviewed for individuals who underwent root canal treatment. The sample size was determined using a power analysis, and a total of 184 patients were included. Treatment outcomes, including success rates and postoperative complications, were analyzed and compared between smokers and non-smokers using appropriate statistical tests.
Results: Among the 92 smokers included in the study, 65 (70.7%) had successful root canal treatment, 20 (21.7%) experienced treatment failure, and 7 (7.6%) had uncertain treatment outcomes. In contrast, among the 92 non-smokers, 82 (89.1%) had successful treatment, 7 (7.6%) experienced treatment failure, and 3 (3.3%) had uncertain treatment outcomes. The association analysis revealed a significant association between smoking and treatment success (p < 0.001), with non-smokers having 4.17 times higher odds of treatment success compared to smokers (odds ratio = 0.24; 95% confidence interval: 0.11-0.54).
Conclusion: This retrospective analysis demonstrates that smoking has a negative impact on the success of root canal treatment. Smokers exhibited lower treatment success rates compared to non-smokers. The findings suggest that smoking cessation and oral health promotion are crucial in improving the outcomes of root canal treatment. Clinicians should consider the influence of smoking when counseling patients and planning treatment strategies for root canal procedures.
Key words: smoking, root canal treatment, treatment outcomes, success rates, retrospective analysis.