A study of suitability of referrals for periradicular surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if the clinical and radiographic presentation of patients referred by their general dental practitioner requesting periradicular surgery fulfilled a set of predetermined guidelines as to the appropriateness of the procedure.


METHODS
Multicentre prospective study.


METHODS
Maxillofacial departments of district general hospitals.


METHODS
Consecutive analysis of referrals within four hospitals over a 1-year period between 1995 and 1996.


RESULTS
From 205 referrals, mostly of patients in the 30 to 40 years age group, 79.5% (n = 163) of referrals failed to meet the criteria, mainly because of an unsatisfactory root canal filling, but also due to obvious coronal microleakage and adjacent teeth contributing to the disease process not yet having received endodontic treatment. In only 6.3% (n = 13) of patients had there been an attempt to retreat the pulp space infection by conventional means.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of referrals in this study did not fulfil the guideline criteria on the provision of periradicular surgery. The factors influencing failure in endodontics and periradicular disease did not appear to have been appreciated, or were not acted upon. Conventional retreatment of the pulp space needs to be considered or attempted prior to referral for surgery.
Bell
G W
GW
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Department, City General Hospital, Carlisle.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003763:Dental Leakage / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010483:Periapical Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019233:Retreatment; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013218:State Dentistry; D013515:Surgery, Oral; D017211:Treatment Failure; D006113:United Kingdom; D019564:Unnecessary Procedures