Endodontic Trends :Where We Are And Where We Should Be-A Survey Report.

ABSTRACT

A survey was conducted to gather information on methods, materials and attitudes employed in root canal treatment by Dentists and in order to evaluate and improve the quality of current practice. Questionnaire comprising of 35 questions on Endodontic practice and root canal treatment i.e. case selection for treatment, planning, equipment & materials used was mailed to 230 randomly selected General Dental Practitioners. Reply rate was 67%. Result demonstrated that few dentists used rubber dam. Variety of instruments were used for root canal preparation; stainless-steel hand files being the most popular (56%) and technique of choice was step back (59.66%). Sodium hypochlorite irrigation and calcium hydroxide dressing was used by 52% and 23% respectively. Most practitioners (91%) obturated root canals with lateral compaction of gutta-percha. Only 14% of respondents used apex locators for determining the working length, whilst 19% did not take any pre-operative radiograph. Practicing dentists do not comply with international quality standards and do not use recently introduced techniques.