Compliance of RCTs in endodontic instrumentation with the CONSORT Statement: A systematic review

Karla Aguiar Cabral,Letícia Maíra Wambier,Juliana Larocca De Geus,Alessandra Reis,Nilton Vivacqua-Gomes,Ana Cristina Rodrigues Martins,Márcia Rezende

doi:10.33448/rsd-v10i8.17350

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the adherence to the CONSORT Statement in clinical studies comparing different instrumentation techniques in Endodontics. Methodology: A systematic search was carried out through Medline databases. There was no restriction on publication year or idiom. Solely randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. The articles were evaluated in compliance with CONSORT. Descriptive analyses of the number of studies by journal, country, and quality assessments were performed with RoB 2.0 Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing risk of bias in RCTs. A total of 6779 studies were identified, and only 33 meet the eligibility criteria. In relation to the overall risk of bias, eight out of 33 were classified as at ‘low’ risk of bias. The overall CONSORT score for the included studies in this review was 22 ± 6.2 points. Significant differences among countries were observed (p = 0.03). The range of years had a significant influence on the average CONSORT score (p = 0.01). The adherence of RCTs of endodontic instrumentation to the CONSORT Statement requires improvements. Adherence to the CONSORT statement will also reduce the high or some concerns risk of bias of studies in the field. CRD42020160552

Highlights

Root canal treatment aims to restore a tooth and its underlying tissues to normal condition and function (Mohammadi et al 2017). It is performed in several interdependent and continuous stages, in which the step of biomechanical preparation of the root canal should clean and remodel the endodontic canal system before obturation procedures (Chugal et al 2017)
A total of 12 items of the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials Statement (CONSORT) Statement were included in this CONSORT evaluation tool
Some articles were still excluded for some reasons: five of them were not randomized controlled trials (RCTs) (Bartols et al 2016, Darda et al 2009, Ritt et al 2012, Sanfelice et al 2010, Wan et al 2017), and one did not compare different instrumentation techniques (Kfir et al 2006)

Summary

Introduction

Root canal treatment aims to restore a tooth and its underlying tissues to normal condition and function (Mohammadi et al 2017) It is performed in several interdependent and continuous stages, in which the step of biomechanical preparation of the root canal should clean and remodel the endodontic canal system before obturation procedures (Chugal et al 2017). Until the 1960s, endodontic instrumentation was made by serial or conventional technique, using stainless steel instruments in an increasing order of diameter, maintaining the same working length This protocol presents a higher risk of accidents, especially in curved and overlapped channels (Tortini et al 2007). They were recommended to be used throughout the working length, while more calibrated instruments, would be used at lower working lengths. This was the rationale being the step-back technique, which significantly reduced accidents when compared to the conventional technique (Kfir et al 2003)

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Conclusion