Introduction: The endodontic treatment today represents a great challenge, despite the fact that everyday new and innovative technologies facilitate this procedure; there are still cases where the resolution is not as expected.

Aim: The aim of this study is to compare the level of apical healing on teeth that undergo apicoectomy with and without retrograde filling of MTA.

Materials and methods: Patients referred from the endodontic service of the Regional Hospital Dr. Hernán Henriquez Aravena and from the dental clinic of the Mayor University in Temuco, Chile.

The sample was composed of 45 patients; group 1 composed of 36 teeth treated with MTA and group 2 without which was the control group and was composed of 9 cases.

A clinical protocol was created and applied. Radiographic follow up was taken immediately post op and at 3, 6 and 12 months.

The level of apical healing was measured by the same radiologist in all cases, using a standardized film positioner for each patient. The determination of the apical healing was measured from maximum l and the tooth width at the enamel-cementum union.

The results were analyzed using a T -test for both samples supposing unequal variances.

Results: Statistical significant differences were found at 3 and 6 months follow up, group 1 treated with MTA as retrograde filling material obtained the most level of periapical healing.

Conflict of interest: None declared.