Reason for Endodontic Treatment of Permanent Teeth of Patients seen in a Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To determine the reasons for endodontic treatment.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of all patients aged 17years and above of both gender attending the conservative clinic for endodontic treatment during the 18 months study period. Reasons for pulp disease leading to teeth being indicated for root canal therapy were retrieved from the patients\' hospital record.

Result: 323 teeth were indicated for endodontic treatment. The teeth included one hundred and two anterior teeth (31.6%), one hundred and forty one premolars (43.7%) and eighty molars (24.8%). Reasons for endodontic treatment were caries, trauma, failed restoration, tooth wear, periodontal disease and any combination of these reasons. Caries was the most common reason for endodontic treatment (50.2%), followed by trauma (20.7%) while failed restoration accounted for (16.1%).Trauma was the commonest reason for endodontic treatment among the anterior teeth studied while dental caries was the commonest reason for endodontic treatment among the posterior.

Conclusion: Dental caries was found to be the commonest reason for endodontic therapy. Traumatic exposure of the pulp was the second most common reason for endodontic treatment. Premolars were the most treated teeth, followed by anterior (incisors and canines). Molars were the least treated teeth.


Keywords: Endodontic Treatment, Pulpitis, Indications

NQJHM Vol. 16 (2) 2006: pp. 37-40