The Association of Statin Intake and Healing of Apical Periodontitis After Root Canal Treatment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between statin intake and apical periodontitis healing after root canal treatment. Patients who self-reported statin use during the treatment and patients who reported never taking statins were included. All who received treatment on a tooth with a periapical radiolucency in the Postgraduate Endodontics Clinic, University of Maryland School of Dentistry (2011-2014) were invited for a two to five-year follow-up examination. Sixty teeth were examined, in 30 patients taking statins and 30 not taking statins (control). Healing was determined using the periapical index. Two calibrated endodontists assessed outcomes blinded to preoperative status. Fisher's Exact Test (FET) showed a significant difference in healing at the two-year or greater follow-up in patients taking statins compared to those who did not (93.0% vs. 70%, FET, p=.02). This study revealed a significant association between statin intake and healing of apical periodontitis after root canal treatment.