A Nonsurgical Endodontics Relational Research Database: The Initial Six Years of Experience

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to report results of the initial six years of experience utilizing a nonsurgical root canal treatment (NSRCT) database; to compare patient characteristics, operative procedures, and patient outcomes observed in the database to those observed in other studies; and to discuss the potential benefits of a clinical endodontic database. A total of 7,372 NSRCT cases performed by endodontic residents at the University of Pennsylvania from 2000 to 2006 were evaluated. The odds ratio (OR) for caries and trauma being causative agents for NSRCT in <or=22 year-olds was 1.4 and 6.7 times, respectively, greater than similar odds in 51+ year-olds. The odds for younger patients presenting with the diagnosis of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were two times greater than for their older counterparts, who were more likely to present with a diagnosis of pulp necrosis. The reasons necessitating NSRCT were most often caries (57.8 percent) and, second, inadequate prior root canal treatment (22.8 percent). The tooth most commonly treated was the mandibular first molar (20.1 percent). Procedural errors were found in 6.1 percent of cases and were more likely to occur in mandibular molars vs. maxillary molars.