The diagnostic reliability of the buccal radiograph after root canal filling

Summary. The quality of root canal fillings in 172 single‐rooted extracted human teeth as it appeared on the buccal radiograph was assessed and compared with first that on a proximal radiograph, second the amount of linear dye penetration, and third the quality of adaptation and compaction of gutta‐percha observed in transverse root sections. The results justify the conclusion that the clinical radiograph has a limited correlation with first the quality of the root filling ascertained from a proximal radiograph, second dye penetration, and third the stereomicroscopic evaluation of filling adaptation and compaction in transverse root canals that are oval or ribbon‐shaped in transverse section are considered.