General dental practitioners’ experience of endodontic treatment, difficulties and barriers. A survey study.

Abstract: Background: Substandard technical quality of root fillings is strongly correlated with apical periodontitis. The introduction of Nickel-Titanium rotary system has improved the technical quality. However, the overall treatment outcome of root canal treatments has not improved. Root canal treatment has been shown to be associated with stress, anxiety and lack of control.  Aim: To investigate the experience of endodontic treatment among general dental practitioners with focus on difficulties and barriers.  Methods: A digital questionnaire survey was sent by email to general dental practitioners (GDPs) in five counties in northern Sweden. The participants were asked questions regarding general information and questions related to their endodontic work divided into three main groups; the patient, education and stress, time and material.  Results: The response rate was 58% (n=96). Sixty percent of the participants had a very or quite positive attitude towards endodontic treatment. Sixty-three percent often or sometimes experience stress when performing root canal treatment. Lack of time was frequently answered as a cause of stress (59%). Most respondents had a good (40%) or quite good (54%) education in endodontics. Twenty-two percent of the GDPs felt very confident and 62% felt quite confident when performing root canal treatment. Conclusion: The participants generally had a positive attitude toward endodontic work. Although, stress was frequently experienced when performing root canal treatment, in many situations due to lack of time. Results from the present study indicates that education is of great value to further develop the dentists’ confidence in endodontics.