Treatment concepts for restoration of endodontically treated teeth: A nationwide survey of dentists in Germany.
BACKGROUND
Opinions concerning proper restoration of endodontically treated teeth (ETT) vary. A variety of techniques and materials for post-and-core restorations are available. The rationale for post placement performed by German dentists was unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine current opinions, applied techniques, and materials for the restoration of ETT in Germany.


METHODS
A nationwide questionnaire-based survey containing 18 multiple choice questions regarding treatment philosophies, favored post type, and materials for core foundations was mailed to 36,500 German general dentists. A total of 6029 questionnaires (16.5%) were returned. Data were evaluated in terms of the dentists' occupational experience and the frequency of post placement. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data.


RESULTS
Irrespective of their occupational experience, 52% of the surveyed dentists consider post placement for almost every postendodontic restoration of ETT. The majority of dentists (54%) believe that a post reinforces ETT. Cast posts and cores are used by 55% of all dentists, whereas 34% use prefabricated posts exclusively. Screw posts are the most popular prefabricated post type (47%). Composite resin (51%) is preferred for core foundation, followed by glass ionomer cements (GICs) (26%). Amalgam is seldom used (0.5%). Posts are placed primarily with zinc phosphate cement (51%), followed by GIC (38%).


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment philosophy of German dentists is not in complete agreement with recommendations found in the literature. The belief that a post would reinforce an ETT might explain the high frequency of post placements. Due to the partially inconsistent responses, it is difficult to derive a generalized treatment concept.
Naumann
Michael
M
Department of Prosthodontics and Geriatric Dentistry, Charite, University Medical School, Campus Virchow, Berlin, Germany. michael.naumann@charite.de
Kiessling
Saskia
S
Seemann
Rainer
R
D002484:Cementation / Q000379:methods; D003188:Composite Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003735:Dental Casting Technique / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005858:Germany; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D006801:Humans; D011176:Post and Core Technique / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000628:therapy*; D015036:Zinc Phosphate Cement
D003188:Composite Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D015036:Zinc Phosphate Cement; D003723:Dental Amalgam