Apical periodontitis epidemiology: A population-based survey of students in Dakar, Senegal

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine the prevalence of apical periodontitis among students at a university in Dakar, Senegal and to assess the associated factors.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, epidemiological study conducted during the academic year 2016–2017 (December 2016 to May 2017). The study population consisted of students in the law faculty and the dentistry department of a university. The age of the subjects was between 20 and 42 years. Each student underwent a clinical examination and a cone beam computed tomography examination.
Results: The findings indicated that the prevalence of apical periodontitis was 12%. The lower first molar was the most affected tooth (33.33%). Defective endodontic treatment was the most common cause of apical periodontitis (42.8%).
Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that poor endodontic treatment was the most common cause of apical periodontitis. Greater knowledge of apical periodontitis and strategies to improve prevention are needed.