Estimated endodontic treatment need and perceived endodontic treatment performed after 1 year

Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between estimated endodontic treatment need and perceived endodontic treatment after 1 year. Methodology: Panoramic radiographs and sensibility testing were taken from 536 patients at their first visit at all of 9 selected dental offices. The results were evaluated by two investigators and endodontic treatment need was calculated. After a period of at least 1 year, the charts of these patients were checked for any endodontic, surgical or restorative treatment on teeth with an estimated endodontic treatment need. Results: On the first visit, 4.2% of the teeth already showed a root canal filling. Minimum and maximum treatment need was calculated to be 2.9% and 9.4% of the teeth, respectively. Only 27% of teeth requiring primary endodontic treatment and 10% of teeth requiring retreatment had received an endodontic therapy 1 year later. Additionally, 30 teeth without an expected treatment need received primary endodontic treatment and 7 teeth without need for retreatment received endodontic therapy. Conclusion: The endodontic treatment need and actually performed endodontic treatment did not conform. Less than half of the teeth with endodontic treatment need had received endodontic treatment within 1 year. Keywords: decision making, endodontic treatment need, perceived treatment, retreatment need