An Online Survey on the Current Trends in Root Canal Treatment

Abstract

Root canal treatment in several regions of Saudi Arabia is commonly administered by general dental practitioners (GDPs) rather than specialized endodontists. The study aimed to compare the endodontic practices and preferences of general dental practitioners with those of endodontists and restorative specialists. A structured questionnaire including 23 questions focussing on fundamental principles and techniques used in contemporary root canal treatment was distributed online to 600 dentists who perform root canal treatments and are registered with the Saudi Dental Society (SDS). Data were gathered for basic demographic and professional details, practices, and preferences in endodontic materials and methods. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 21 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). For selected variables, frequency distributions and 95% confidence interval for sample proportions were measured. Associations between categorical variables were examined using cross-tabulation, with statistical significance assessed by the chi-square test of homogeneity or Fisher’s exact test when necessary. The survey, with a 59% response rate primarily from participants aged 24-34 years (94.1%) with one to five years of experience (90.4%), revealed that most GDPs referred root canal treatment (RCT) cases due to lack of skills (82.8%), performed restorability assessments (90.9%), preferred Cavit for tooth buildup (87%), consistently used rubber dam isolation (91.5%), treated mainly anterior teeth (91.2%) without magnification (87.9%), used electronic apex locators for working length determination (63.3%), favored stainless steel K files and single cone obturation, while specialists exhibited wider clinical experience, more frequent use of advanced techniques, and higher usage of intracanal medicaments (91.7%) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as irrigant (70.8%). The study provides valuable insights into the endodontic preferences and practices of dentists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, revealing significant differences between general dental practitioners and specialists. The findings highlight critical areas for improvement, such as the need for enhanced training in endodontic skills and better access to modern materials and equipment.