A comparison of survival of teeth following endodontic treatment performed by general dentists or by specialists

Bradley S Alley; G Gray Kitchens; Larry W Alley; Paul D Eleazer

doi:10.1016/j.tripleo.2004.01.004

A comparison of survival of teeth following endodontic treatment performed by general dentists or by specialists

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod. 2004 Jul;98(1):115-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2004.01.004.

Authors

Bradley S Alley¹, G Gray Kitchens, Larry W Alley, Paul D Eleazer

Affiliation

¹ Veterans Administration Hospital, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.

PMID: 15243481
DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2004.01.004

Abstract

Objective: A chart review was performed at 3 private general practices in different regions of Alabama to compare success of endodontic treatment provided by specialists versus generalists.

Study design: To qualify for the study the general dentists had to perform some endodontic treatment and to refer some to endodontists. Success was defined as the treated tooth being present at 5 years after the date of treatment initiation. This criterion, was chosen because of its unequivocal categorization of results. Calibrated dentists reviewed over 3,000 charts.

Results: 350 met the inclusion criteria. 195 teeth were treated by generalists, with an 89.7% success rate. 155 teeth were treated by endodontists, with a 98.1% success rate.

Conclusion: In this limited survey, endodontic treatment by specialists was significantly more successful.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Dental Restoration Failure
Endodontics*
General Practice, Dental*
Humans
Root Canal Therapy*
Tooth Extraction
Treatment Outcome