Improvement in oral health-related quality of life after endodontic treatment: a prospective longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: To date, evidence of the effectiveness of endodontic treatment and criteria of success have mainly been considered in terms of clinical outcome, and there is a lack of information of treatment outcomes from patients' perspectives. This study aimed to assess changes in quality of life after endodontic treatment and to determine if changes in quality of life were associated with changes in patient-perceived oral health and clinical assessments of success. METHODS: This longitudinal study involved 279 subjects. Patient-reported outcome measures based on oral health-related quality of life was assessed using the short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The patients completed the assessments before endodontic treatment and 1 month and 6 months after root canal obturation. A global oral health transition assessment was ascertained by a single (global) item rating of oral health improvement and clinical assessment mainly based on the Periapical Index (PAI) of periapical radiographs. RESULTS: There were significant changes in OHIP-14 scores over the study period after conventional orthograde endodontic treatment (from pretreatment-6 months postobturation) (P < .001). The magnitude of statistical change (effect size) was moderate (0.61) in the short-term (after 1 month) and large (0.71) in the longer-term (after 6 months). Changes in the OHIP-14 was associated with changes in patient self-rating oral health status (P < .001), which was also associated with changes in PAI scores (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Endodontic treatment improves quality of life. The OHIP-14 measure is both sensitive and responsive to endodontic treatment and is likely to be useful in understanding patients' perspectives of outcomes from endodontic care.

Attitude of general dental practitioners toward root canal treatment procedures in India.

OBJECTIVE: The percentage of general dental practitioners is very common in India, so the purpose of this study was to assess attitude of general dental practitioners toward root canal treatment (RCT) procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 178 dentists (96 males and 82 females) were surveyed using a selfadministered, structured questionnaire pretested through a pilot survey. The questionnaire collected information regarding RCT procedures among participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. Frequency and percentage distributions were calculated. RESULTS: In the present study most of the participants, i.e. 86.4% reported that they perform (RCT) procedures in posterior teeth. Isolation is mainly done with cotton rolls only (74.6%) and very few are using rubber dam in their practice (3.2%). Radiographs were not taken after every step in most of the cases. Rotary instruments were used in less number of cases and K-files were the most popular instruments (66.2%). Also single sitting RCT was not commonly seen. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study indicates that most of the general dental practitioners' do not comply with quality standards guidelines such as use of rubber dam as isolation. So dentist should update their knowledge and practices with current techniques and materials through CDE programs.