Aim: This prospective follow‐up study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with root canal treatment (RCT) 7–9 years after initiation in a general dental practice setting.

Method: A study population of 243 patients initiated RCT at 20 public dental clinics in the Västra Götaland Region, Sweden. One to 3 years later, 159 patients (67.4%) responded to an 8‐item questionnaire assessing patient satisfaction with RCT and treatment results. The questionnaire was sent out again 7–9 years after treatment initiation. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to compare respondents and non‐respondents, tooth groups and comparison over time.

Results: A total of 156 patients (72.2%) responded to the 7–9 years' questionnaire; 82 women (52.6%) and 74 men (47.4%) with a mean age of 59.3 years (SD = ±15.3). Non‐respondents were significantly younger ( p  < 0.001). The majority of RCTs were reported as completed with a root filling ( n  = 102, 65.4%), although significantly fewer molars were completed ( n  = 43, 56.6%; p  < 0.001). Sixty‐six patients (63.5%) reported no current pain, while most of those reporting pain described it as mild ( n  = 30, 90.9%). More than half of the root filled incisors were associated with current pain ( n  = 15, 57.7%; p  < 0.009). A total of 111 patients (76.0%) recalled the procedure as painful. Chewing ability received the highest satisfaction rating (mean = 1.3). The majority of patients reported they would choose RCT again ( n  = 114, 77.0%). Among the 17 who answered ‘No’, 13 had undergone extraction, and 3 reported persistent pain following RCT. Over time, the number of extracted teeth increased ( p  < 0.001), while current pain intensity decreased and retrospective satisfaction with RCT improved ( p  < 0.001).

Conclusions: Seven to nine years after the initiation of RCT in this general dental practice setting, patient satisfaction remains high despite one‐third of treated teeth being reported as extracted. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating patient‐reported outcomes in the evaluation of dental procedures, including endodontic treatments.

Aim: To explore the context in which general dental practitioners (GDPs) decide to refrain from further treatment, that is, ortho- or retrograde retreatment or extraction of a root canal filled tooth with persistent asymptomatic apical periodontitis (PAAP).

Methodology: Fifteen GDPs were strategically selected for in-depth interviews. The informants were encouraged to describe in their own words and in as much detail as possible, the three most recent patient cases of PAAP of a root canal filled tooth, in which they decided to refrain from further treatment. The interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. The collected material was analysed according to Qualitative Content Analysis with an inductive approach.

Results: A pattern of varying degrees of uncertainty associated with the decision process was identified. The motives to refrain intervention had great diversity. The result from analysis of the qualitative data was formulated in an overall theme 'Between doubt and certainty in a complex clinical context' covering the latent content. The first main category covering the manifest content was 'The continuum of confidence' with three subcategories 'Experienced uncertainty', 'Reluctant approval' and 'At ease with refraining' illustrating the feelings and attitudes experienced by the informants. The second category was 'In support of acceptance' with three subcategories 'Patient's autonomy, risks and cost-benefits', 'Emotional aspects' and 'Relieving measures' representing the reasons for refraining from intervention.

Conclusions: The decision to refrain from further treatment, that is, ortho- or retrograde retreatment or extraction of a root canal filled tooth with PAAP was made with some measure of confidence, combined with compensatory strategies to support the decision, taking into account not only values beneficial to the patient and awareness of limited external resources, but also factors related to the informants' personal preferences, convenience, concerns, ambition and emotions.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of root canal treatment on Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in general dental practice and compare it with tooth extraction. Additionally, patient satisfaction following tooth-preserving treatment was assessed.

Material and methods: In all, 65 patients were recruited from 6 general dental clinics in Västra Götaland over 8 weeks, with 37 starting root canal treatment and 28 having extractions. Questionnaires, including Oral Health Impact Profile-14 (OHIP-14) and 9 questions assessing patient satisfaction, were administered at treatment initiation, and at 1, 6, and 12 months. The responses from both modalities were analysed using descriptive and analytical statistical methods.

Results: The response rate ranged from 73.8% to 92.3%. Regarding OHRQoL, differences between the groups were few compared to baseline. However, significant improvements were observed in the extraction group at the 6- and 12-month follow-ups, in the ‘total score’, and the dimensions ‘pain’, ‘discom-fort’, and ‘handicap’. Patient satisfaction was generally high, with cost being the least satisfactory item. Pain intensity remained consistently low.

Conclusions: In this prospective cohort study few differences were found between the two treatment modalities. However, significant improvements were observed in the extraction group in several dimen-sions. The patient satisfaction regarding root canal treatment was considered high.

Artikeln beskriver apikal parodontit med respektive utan systemisk spridning, och hur olika prioriterade åtgärder kan appliceras på ett antal typfall.

INTRODUCTION: Prospective studies assessing the relation between endodontic inflammatory disease and subsequent cardiovascular events are few. The present aim was to explore associations between endodontic variables and future cardiovascular events in patients with myocardial infarction and matched controls participating in the PAROKRANK (Periodontitis and Its Relation to Coronary Artery Disease) study.

METHODS: Eight-hundred five patients hospitalized for a first myocardial infarction and 805 controls were recruited between 2010 and 2014. Signs of endodontic inflammatory disease were assessed in panoramic radiographs taken at baseline. Mortality and morbidity data during the approximately 8 years of follow up were obtained from national registries. The risk for future cardiovascular events (first of mortality and nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure) was analyzed with the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression adjusted for the following confounders: sex, age, smoking, myocardial infarction, diabetes, education, marital status, family history of cardiovascular disease, and marginal periodontitis.

RESULTS: In total, 285 future events were observed during the follow-up period. Unadjusted analyses revealed that ≥1 root-filled tooth increased the risk of a future event. After adjustment, the number of remaining teeth and non-root-filled teeth decreased the risk of future events, whereas a higher Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth score increased the risk and ≥1 primary apical periodontitis decreased the risk of suffering cardiovascular events. A higher Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth score and decayed teeth increased the risk of all-cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS: Tooth loss is a strong indicator of an increased risk for future cardiovascular events. Root-filled teeth seem of limited value as a risk indicator when accounting for other risk factors. The potential effect of dental interventions on future events should be assessed in future research.

Introduction: The aims were to investigate 1) the frequency of nonsurgical retreatment, root-end surgery, extraction, and further restorative treatment during a follow-up of 10 to 11 years after root filling and compare the frequencies according to tooth group and type of coronal restoration, and 2) the timing of nonsurgical retreatment, root-end surgery, and extraction.

Methods: Data were collected from the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's register. A search for treatment codes identified teeth root filled in 2009 and the type of coronal restoration (direct, indirect, unspecified) registered within 6 months of root filling. The root-filled teeth were followed 10-11 years, and further interventions were recorded. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis.

Results: In 2009, root fillings were registered for 215,611 individuals/teeth. Nonsurgical retreatment, root-end surgery, and extraction were undertaken in 3.5%, 1.4%, and 20% teeth, respectively. The frequency of further interventions varied with respect to tooth group and type of coronal restoration, but only slightly for endodontic retreatments. Further interventions, except for root-end surgery, were registered more often for molars and directly restored teeth (P < 0.001). The majority of endodontic retreatments were undertaken within 4 years, while extractions were evenly distributed over 10-11 years.

Conclusions: The frequency numbers of nonsurgical retreatment and root-end surgery were low, despite one in five root-filled teeth registered as extracted. Further interventions were most common in molars and directly restored teeth. Endodontic retreatments were performed more often during the first 4 years.

Objectives: To analyze the accumulated fees connected with root filling, permanent coronal restoration and follow-on treatment charged by Swedish dentists over a 10-11-year follow-up period. Furthermore, analyzing these fees with reference to the type of restoration, tooth group, and the root-filled teeth which survived compared to those requiring extraction.

Material and methods: In 2009, the data register of the Swedish Social Insurance Agency recorded a total of 215,611 teeth as root-filled. The accumulated fees for each tooth encompassed the following interventions: initial root filling, coronal restorations, and follow-up treatments during the designated period. The outcomes were analyzed using descriptive and analytic statistics, including t tests and one-way analysis of variance. The fees are presented in Euros (€1 = SEK 8.94).

Results: The total accumulated fees for root fillings amounted to 72 million Euros: the mean fee per root filled tooth was €333.6. The total mean fee over a 10-11-year period, comprising root canal treatment, coronal restorations, and any follow-up treatments, was €923.4. Root-filled teeth with indirect restorations presented a higher mean fee (€1 279.3) compared to those with direct restorations (€829.4) or those without specified restorations (€832.7; p < .001). Moreover, molars presented a significantly higher mean fee (€966.4) compared to premolars (€882.8) and anterior teeth (€891.3; p < .001). Lastly, the mean fee for extracted teeth was €1225.3, which was higher compared to those who survived the follow-up period (€848.0; p < .001).

Conclusions: Fees charged by general dental practitioners for root-filled teeth accumulate over time, probably due to the need for further treatment of the tooth. The total mean fee was significantly higher for molars and root-filled teeth with indirect restorations. However, an analysis of the total costs would require prospective clinical cost-effectiveness studies.

Aim: To investigate what happens to cross-sectionally identified root-filled teeth over a 6-year period, regardless of the time that elapsed since primary root canal treatment, in a cohort of adult patients regularly attending a Public Dental Service. A secondary aim was to investigate how the cumulative events affecting root-filled teeth over the same time were associated with variables obtained from a baseline examination.

Methodology: Adult patients with ≥1 previously root-filled tooth and regularly attending the Public Dental Service in Örebro County were enrolled for study participation in 2015. General dental practitioners examined all identified root-filled teeth in this cohort at baseline using a standardized protocol and were also responsible for further decision-making and treatments. After six years, information on events of the root-filled teeth was collected from dental records. The highest rating (most invasive treatment) on a 5-point ordinal scale was used in the analyses. Regression analyses with stepwise selection were performed for associations between patient- and tooth-related factors and events.

Results: A total of 445 patients with 1007 root-filled teeth were followed the entire observation time. Twenty (2.0%) of the root-filled teeth had endodontic retreatment and 150 (14.9%) were extracted over six years. Among teeth with periapical radiolucency or pain, the majority did not undergo retreatment or extraction; however, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that retreatment or extraction was associated with baseline recordings of teeth with periapical radiolucency (p < .0001), tenderness to percussion (p < .0001), and poor coronal restoration (p < .0001).

Conclusions: This study corroborates the notion that in general dentistry, root-filled teeth with radiological signs of apical disease often remain untreated over time. Furthermore, it also reveals that root-filled teeth presenting with mild pain do not necessarily receive any intervention. However, teeth with baseline signs of apical periodontitis, pain, or inadequate coronal restoration were more likely to have received intervention during the six-year period.

Objectives: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of root canal treatment (RCT) compared with a tooth extraction in a general dental practice setting, with reference to cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained over 1 year.

Material and methods: This is a prospective controlled cohort study based on patients either starting RCT or undergoing extraction at one of six Public Dental Service clinics in the county of Västra Götaland, Sweden. From a total of 65 patients, 2 comparable groups were formed: 37 started RCT and 28 underwent extraction. A societal perspective was used for the cost calculations. QALYs were estimated, based on the EQ-5D-5L given to the patients at their first treatment appointment and then after 1, 6, and 12 months.

Results: The total mean cost of RCT ($689.1) was higher than for extraction ($280.1). For those patients whose extracted tooth was replaced, the costs were even higher ($1245.5). There were no significant intergroup differences in QALYs, but a significant improvement in health state values in the tooth-preserving group.

Conclusions: In the short term, extraction was cost-effective compared with preserving a tooth with RCT. However, the potential need for future replacement of the extracted tooth, by an implant, fixed prosthesis, or removable partial dentures, may change the calculation in favor of RCT.

Aim: To investigate the fees for root filling and further dental care charged by Swedish dentists during a follow-up period of 10 to 11 years. Comparisons are made between type of restoration registered within 6 months of the root filling, the tooth group, and the root filled teeth that survived versus those that were extracted.Methods: A total of 215 611 teeth were registered as root filled in the Swedish Social Insurance Agency’s data register in 2009. For each identified tooth, the fees for the following interventions were tracked: initial root filling, coronal restorations, and further dental interventions registered during the follow-up period. The outcomes were analysed with descriptive and analytic statistics, using one-way ANOVA and t-tests. The fees are presented in Euro (€1 = SEK 8.94; 01/01/2012).Results: The total fee for the root fillings was 72 million euros, and the mean fee was €333.6 per root filling. The total mean fee for the preservation of a root filled tooth over 10 to 11 years was €923.4, which included root canal treatment, coronal restorations, and further interventions. The mean fee for indirectly restored root filled teeth was higher (€1 279.3) than for those directly restored (€829.4) and for teeth without specified restorations (€832.7; P < 0.001). Molars had a significantly higher mean fee (€966.4) compared to premolars (€882.8) and anterior teeth (€891.3; P < 0.001). The mean fee for teeth that were extracted was higher (€1 225.3) than for those that survived the follow-up (€848.0; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Fees for root filled teeth have accumulated over time probably due to further dental care needed. The total mean fee was significantly higher for indirectly restored root filled teeth than for directly restored. However, prospective clinical cost-effectiveness studies are needed to analyse the total costs.