Opinions of UK General Dental Practitioners on the Restoration of Posterior Root Filled Teeth: a Vignette Survey.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate factors which influence UK general dental practitioners (GDPs) when restoring posterior root filled teeth.

Method: An electronic survey was designed to explore current strategies of treatment of posterior root filled teeth by UK-based GDPs working in primary care. Three vignette cases included in the questionnaire explored a variety of tooth, patient, and financial factors. The survey was distributed by email and social media platforms between December 2018 and February 2019.

Results: A total of 528 valid responses were collected. The majority of participants (84.1%) regularly restored posterior root filled teeth with an indirect restoration. Presence of persistent symptoms post root canal treatment (RCT) completion would impact the management of 85% of the surveyed respondents. Referral to a specialist, deferral of provision of the definitive restoration, and fear of litigation were reported by the GDPs as influencing factors.

Conclusion: This survey highlights that decision making regarding restoration of root filled teeth is a multifactorial process. Tooth, patient, and financial factors were all shown to influence the restorative management of the posterior root filled teeth.