Clinical signs and symptoms and not PAI score affected patients' oral health-related QoL after Endodontic Therapy

Two hundred thirty-four patients (257 endodontically treated teeth) who were previously included in a quality assurance study were offered a recall appointment at the Department of Clinical Dentistry, University of Bergen, Norway. Patients were given a thorough clinical, radiographic examination and asked to fill out the Oral Health Impact Profile-14 questionnaire.

Results

A total of 149 patients (160 teeth) attended the 4-year (range, 4–6 years) recall appointment. An unchanged or lower Periapical Index (PAI) score at recall visit was registered on 153 teeth (95.6%) (P < .001). Radiographic success rate (PAI score ≤ 2) was 87.5%, and clinical success (absence of clinical signs and symptoms) was 88.8%. Both radiographic and clinical success was observed in 78.8% of teeth. Teeth in high difficulty category, instrumented with engine-driven files, and molars presented with significantly more clinical signs and symptoms but not high PAI score (PAI score ≥ 3) (P < .05). Endodontic mishaps such as overinstrumentation and overfill with gutta-percha resulted in significantly high PAI score (P < .05). Patients with no clinical signs and symptoms after RCT and elderly had a significantly better OHRQoL (P < .05).

Presence of clinical signs and symptoms rather than PAI score affected patients’ OHRQoL.

Reference:

Isabell Johnsen, Asgeir Bårdsen, Sivakami Rethnam Haug, et al. Impact of Case Difficulty, Endodontic Mishaps, and Instrumentation Method on Endodontic Treatment Outcome and Quality of Life: A Four-Year Follow-up Study Open AccessPublished:January 25, 2023DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joen.2023.01.005