ESE Favourable Outcome — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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EasyEndodonticsESE Favourable OutcomeORE Part 1

A patient has a tooth with a periapical radiolucency. The tooth has been successfully root treated and obturated. At 1-year follow-up, the radiolucency has resolved completely. What ESE outcome grade is this?

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Correct answer: B — Favourable outcome (healed)

The ESE (European Society of Endodontology) classifies endodontic outcomes based on clinical and radiographic findings at minimum 1-year follow-up. Complete resolution of a periapical radiolucency in an asymptomatic tooth represents a favourable (healed) outcome. Uncertain outcome applies when radiolucency decreases but persists. Unfavourable outcome (disease) applies when radiolucency persists unchanged or increases. 'Cannot be assessed' would apply only if follow-up period is insufficient or radiographs unavailable. Treatment failure indicates symptomatic teeth or worsening of lesions. The 1-year timepoint with complete radiographic healing is the textbook definition of healed/favourable outcome per ESE criteria.

Reference: European Society of Endodontology. Quality guidelines for endodontic treatment: consensus report of the European Society of Endodontology. Int Endod J. 2006;39(12):921–930. Cited in: 'Outcome of Root Canal Treatments Provided by Endodontic Postgraduate Students.' PMC7355894. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7355894/