Epidemiological evaluation of the outcomes of nonsurgical root canal treatment in a large cohort of insured dental patients

Selected outcomes following initial nonsurgical root canal treatment (NSRCT ) procedures were retrospectively assessed using an insurance company datab ase of 110,766 nonsurgical root canal procedures that were completed by end odontists and their referring general dentists. A subset of 44,613 cases, w ith a minimum required follow-up time of 2 yr, showed incidences of extract ion, retreatment and periradicular surgery equal to 5.56%, 2.47%, and 1.41% , respectively. The incidence of subsequent extraction increased with patie nt age. Teeth that were not restored after root canal therapy were signific antly more likely to undergo extraction than restored teeth. Although the p ractice pattern for endodontists consisted of a significantly higher propor tion of molars (48% more; p < 0.001) and a smaller proportion of anterior t eeth (43% less; p < 0.001) than general dentists, both groups of providers had comparable rates of untoward events. These data strongly support the hy pothesis that the specialist practice provides similar rates of clinical su ccess compared with other providers, even when treating significantly more complex NSRCT cases. Overall, 94.44% of nonsurgical root canal treated teet h remained functional over an average follow-up time of 3.5 yr. These resul ts are an important indication of the benefits of endodontic treatment when provided in an integrated health care delivery system of endodontists and their referring general dentists.