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A Comparison of Retreatment Decisions Among General Dental Practitioners and Endodontists
Author(s) -
Balto Hanan Abdul Ghafour,
AlMadi Ebtissam Mohammed
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2004.68.8.tb03837.x
Subject(s) - endodontist , medicine , dentistry , endodontic retreatment , endodontics , root canal , family medicine
This study compared the difference in decision making regarding retreatment of endodontically treated teeth by general dental practitioners and endodontists. Thirty radiographs of endodontically treated teeth taken from undergraduate records with their respective case descriptions were submitted to fifteen endodontists and fifteen general dental practitioners. Seven treatment alternatives were given as choices; reasons for retreatment, if chosen, were also requested and presented as choices. The results showed statistically different decisions among these two groups regarding retreatment cases. More endodontists opted for retreatment of cases, while higher percentages of general dentists decided to observe, not treat or extract. To prevent misdiagnosis and eventually mistreatment, endodontic decision making should be taught. Currently, there are no specific guidelines for management of failed root canal retreatment. It is suggested that guidelines generated by evidence‐based dentistry may produce less variation in clinical decision making.