Techniques and materials used by general dentists during endodontic treatment procedures
Open accessAbstract
Background Little is known about which materials and techniques general dentists (GDs) use during root canal procedures. The objectives were to: (1) quantify GD’s use of specific endodontic armamentarium; (2) quantify inappropriate use; and (3) ascertain if inappropriate use is associated with dentists’ practice characteristics. Methods GDs in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network reported in a questionnaire materials and techniques they use during root canal procedures. Results 1,490 (87%) of eligible GDs participated. Most (93%; n=1,383) used sodium hypochlorite to irrigate. The most commonly used sealers were zinc oxide-eugenol (43%) and resin (40%), followed by calcium hydroxide (26%). A majority (62%; n=920) used a compaction obturation technique; 36% (n=534) used a carrier-based method. Most (96%; n=1,423) used gutta percha as a filler; 5% used paste fillers. Few used irrigants (n=46), sealers (n=4), techniques (n=49) or fillers (n=10) that investigators classified as ‘inappropriate’. Conclusions GDs use a broad range of endodontic techniques and materials, often adapting to newer technologies as they become available. Few GDs use armamentarium that the investigators classified as inappropriate. Practical Implications GDs use many types of endodontic techniques and materials, but only a very small percentage is not appropriate.
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- Authors
- Eleazer, P. D., Gilbert, G. H., Funkhouser, E., Reams, G. J., Law, A. S., & Benjamin, P. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Permanente Dental Associates, P.C. (US)
- HistoryMiami (US)
- Corresponding author
- Eleazer, Paul D.
- Venue
- The Journal of the American Dental Association
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-01
- Volume
- 147
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 19-27
- ISSN
- 0002-8177 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4706829
- OpenAlex
- W2175506178
- Semantic Scholar
- d999c7b8c55f94c1a5a64bd0b89f46266020c0eb
- Cited by
- 17
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 0.86
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Journal of the American Dental Association (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Oral Surgery › Endodontics and Root Canal Treatments
- Health Sciences › Dentistry › Orthodontics › Dental materials and restorations
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Periodontal Regeneration and Treatments
- Keywords
- endodontic treatment, endodontic materials, endodontic techniques, general dentists, sodium hypochlorite irrigation, endodontic sealers, zinc oxide eugenol, calcium hydroxide, gutta-percha, irrigants, dental practice characteristics
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Dental Instruments, Dental Materials, Dental Pulp Diseases, Endodontics, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States, Practice Patterns, Dentists'
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