Clinical factors related to noncompletion of root canal therapy.
OBJECTIVE
This study identified clinical factors related to noncompletion of root canal therapy (RCT) among patients in a dental health maintenance organization (HMO) based in Portland, OR.


METHODS
A secondary analysis of a case-control study was conducted using data from 303 individuals enrolled continuously in the HMO from January 1, 1987, through December 31, 1994, who received endodontic access on a permanent nonwisdom tooth in 1987 or 1988. Person- and tooth-level characteristics were evaluated to compare patients whose accessed tooth was obturated by December 31, 1994, with patients whose accessed tooth was not obturated by that date. Written and electronic records were reviewed to ascertain study variables, and multivariate logistic regression models were developed to describe differences between the two groups.


RESULTS
Incomplete RCT was more common among patients who were symptomatic prior to access and had more missing first molars at access. It also was more common among teeth that were decayed, had more pockets > or = 5 mm, and had fewer decayed or filled surfaces at access.


CONCLUSIONS
Because patients with greater evidence of past and current oral disease were less likely to have completed RCT, they may require additional counseling about the importance of carrying through with prescribed treatment.
Caplan
D J
DJ
Department of Dental Ecology, School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina, CB #7450, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7450, USA. dan_caplan@unc.edu
White
B A
BA
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003376:Counseling; D004245:DMF Index; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000150:complications; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D005260:Female; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009922:Oregon; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010352:Patient Dropouts; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012389:Root Canal Obturation; D018915:Root Canal Preparation; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014081:Tooth Extraction; D016388:Tooth Loss / Q000150:complications; D016312:Treatment Refusal