The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the endodontic status of selected teeth in a population over time, in order to get a long‐term perspective of endodontically treated teeth. A random sample of the adult Swedish population was selected in 1974 and offered a clinical and radiographic examination. Eleven years later 351 of the selected persons attended a follow‐up examination (1985). In radiographs, covering the mandibular premolar and molar regions, the status of 1974 was directly compared, tooth by tooth, with the status of 1985. The results showed that a number of endodontically treated teeth with an apical periodontitis healed during the observation period. During the same period, approximately the same number of endodontically treated teeth presented with a new apical periodontitis. This finding suggested that cross‐sectional studies could provide reliable information on the long‐term success rate of endodontic treatment at the population level. The periapical lesions that persisted or developed during the observation period were strongly related to incomplete root canal obturation, which is in agreement with observations in follow‐up studies from teaching and specialist clinics.