A comparison of survival of teeth following endodontic treatment performed by general dentists or by specialists
Received 3 December 2003; received in revised form 5 January 2004; accepted 16 January 2004.
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.
Birmingham, Ala VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOSPITAL, UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA HOSPITAL, AND UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY
aGeneral practice resident, Veterans Administration Hospital, Birmingham, Ala USA
bGeneral practice resident, University of Alabama Hospital, Birmingham, Ala USA
cPrivate practice, Birmingham, Ala; Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Endodontics and Pulp Biology, University of Alabama School of Dentistry, Birmingham, Ala USA
dProfessor and Chair, Department of Endodontics and Pulp Biology, University of Alabama School of Dentistry USA
Reprint requests: Dr. Paul Eleazer School of Dentistry, SDB 417 University of Alabama at Birmingham 1530 Third Avenue, South Birmingham, AL 35294-0007
ABSTRACT