A comparison of endodontic referrals and treatment in the public and private sectors in Western Australia

Abstract

The aim was to compare referral patterns and treatment provided by specialist Endodontists and Endodontic Registrars. A retrospective review was conducted of the clinical records of the first 25 patients seen by seven private endodontic clinicians and the equivalent number (175) of patients seen by five public sector endodontic clinicians from 1 January 2017. The average age and range of medical co‐morbidities of patients in the public sector were statistically greater. Referred patients and referrers mainly worked in metropolitan Perth. The most frequent reasons for referral in both public and private sectors were to assess and manage non‐painful endodontic pathosis, to manage pain, and to manage calcified canals. There was a wide range of cases referred to both sectors but with similar patterns suggesting that the training of specialists adequately prepares them for private practice. The results also indicate that Endodontists must be proficient in all aspects of the speciality.

A comparison of endodontic registrar training experience with treatments provided by private practice endodontists

“…Whilst the scopes were similar, the private endodontists treated on average twice as many patients as the registrars [5]. A retrospective review of referral patterns and treatment provided by public and private endodontic practitioners indicated that there was a wide, but similar, range of reasons for referrals between the two practice sectors but the public sector patients had a statistically significantly higher average age and a greater range of medical co‐morbidities [6]. Both these two latter studies indicated that the similar patterns of referrals and treatments suggested that the registrars were being adequately prepared for private practice upon graduation as specialist endodontists.…”