A survey of endodontic practice amongst Flemish dentists.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to gather information on routine endodontic treatment performed by Flemish (Dutch-speaking Belgian) dentists.


METHODS
A postal questionnaire was sent to all the 4545 Dutch-speaking dentists registered in Belgium. The questionnaire was made up of 38 questions with multiple-choice answers. Results from 32 questions are presented, covering subjects, such as demographic and professional activity, root-canal preparation and instrumentation, emergency procedures and postoperative complications, choice of irrigants and disinfectants, and choice of obturation techniques.


RESULTS
A total of 1143 questionnaires (25.1%) were returned. Approximately 94% of the respondents were general practitioners. The results indicate that there are discrepancies between daily practice and academic teaching, especially regarding the use of rubber dam (only 3.4% report using it as a standard procedure) and the detection and preparation of a second mesiobuccal canal in maxillary first molars (70% never or seldom). Most GDPs reported that they completed treatment in two visits. The majority of practitioners used manual instruments manipulated with a filing technique; 38.9% of the respondents prepared root canals 1 mm short of the radiographic apex. The most popular emergency procedure for acute pain was pulpectomy (40.2%); 48% performed pulpectomy, prescribed analgesics and antibiotics for acute apical periodontitis. Approximately 35% reported complications after cases with chronic apical periodontitis were treated. The first-choice root-canal irrigant was sodium hypochlorite and approximately 65% used intracanal medication. The most popular obturation technique was cold lateral condensation (60%) with 29% using AH26 as a sealer. A high proportion of GDPs (80%) performed re-treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study confirm that many Flemish general practitioners are not following quality guidelines for endodontic treatment.
Slaus
G
G
Department of Endodontics, Free University of Brussels, Laarbeeklaan 103, B-1090 Brussels, Belgium.
Bottenberg
P
P
D000208:Acute Disease; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium; D001729:Bismuth / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000473:pathology; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004853:Epoxy Resins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005792:General Practice, Dental; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D010485:Periapical Periodontitis / Q000188:drug therapy; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011670:Pulpectomy; D011671:Pulpitis / Q000628:therapy; D019233:Retreatment; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012389:Root Canal Obturation / Q000379:methods; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012390:Root Canal Therapy; D016733:Rubber Dams; D012834:Silver / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014025:Titanium / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000700:Analgesics; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004853:Epoxy Resins; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D012834:Silver; C028044:epoxy resin AH-26; D014025:Titanium; D001729:Bismuth