title: Pattern of demand for endodontic treatment by adult patients in port-harcourt, South-South Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Root canal therapy (RCT) is an efficacious therapeutic strategy to retain teeth with irreversible pulpal damage. RCT ensures that a tooth with irreversible pulpal damage retains its functional role in the oral cavity. Currently, there are limited epidemiologic studies relating to the pattern of demand of RCT in Nigeria particularly in the Niger Delta region of the country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the pattern of demand and reasons for endodontic treatment among adult patients attending a tertiary Dental Centre in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the hospital records of adult patients who attended the Conservative Dental Clinic of the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria from April 2008 to April 2012 for root canal therapy (RCT) was done. The demographic and clinical data were retrieved from the patients' records and analyzed using the SPSS version 20.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 213 patients comprising 93 (43.7%) males and 120 (56.3%) females, giving a male to female ratio of 1:1.3. The age range of the patients was 17- 65 years while the median age was 28.0 years. The highest incidence of root canal disease (42.7 %) was found in the 20-29 years age group. The commonest indication for RCT was Irreversible pulpitis (46.9%). A total number of 241 teeth were treated. The molars 102(42.3%) were the most endodontically treated teeth, followed by the anterior teeth 90(37.3%). Maxillary teeth underwent higher percentage of RCT (65.1%) as against mandibular teeth where the treatment was done in 34.9% of the cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More female patients and younger age group demanded for root canal therapy. Irreversible pulpitis was responsible for the majority of the cases treated and highest number of procedure was performed on maxillary teeth. The molars were the most endodontically treated teeth.
authors.forename: Au
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Umanah
authors.forename: Bb
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Osagbemiro
authors.forename: Ao
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arigbede
keywords: Demand; Endodontic treatment; Indications; Pattern; Root canal therapy