How tooth-saving decisions are made
Certain factors may contribute to decisions to perform tooth-saving procedures or tooth extraction.
In a cross-sectional vignette study, researchers asked more than 100 general U.S. dentists to read a clinical vignette regarding a potentially restorable maxillary first molar and complete a survey involving questions pertaining to their decisions to treat the tooth with root canal therapy or extract the tooth. They then evaluated both clinical and nonclinical factors affecting the decision-making process.
The researchers noted that 54% of the respondents stated they would perform root canal therapy and 46% of them stated they would perform tooth extraction. More than one-third of the dentists indicated that they had determined the tooth was somewhat or very likely restorable. While no clinician-related factors significantly impacted decision-making, the researchers found that dentists practicing in academic settings were more likely to recommend tooth extraction compared with those in private practice settings.
The findings revealed that perceived tooth restorability was a primary factor influencing a dentist’s decision to treat or extract a tooth.
Read more: Journal of Endodontics
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