Endodontic factors associated with satisfaction of patients after root canal treatment

Abstract

Objective: Understanding patients' perspectives is essential for treatment planning and assessing healthcare efficacy. This study explored the influential factors in root canal treatment (RCT) on patient satisfaction.Methods: This prospective study involved 390 eligible patients who underwent RCT at the Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal. We collected data by assessing endodontic factors before treatment and using a post-treatment semantic differential scale questionnaire. Patients’ satisfaction was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0 (least satisfaction) to 10 (highest satisfaction possible). Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis test were employed for data analysis, and P-value<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Patients expressed high levels of satisfaction post-endodontic treatment (VAS 8.08). Patients were particularly satisfied with improved chewing ability (VAS 7.77), overall comfort (VAS 7.76), and aesthetics (VAS 7.63) after treatment. However, concerns were raised about treatment cost (VAS 5.97) and duration (VAS 5.86). Several factors were significantly associated with higher patient satisfaction levels including a diagnosis of pulpitis, younger age, lower DMFT (Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth) score, fewer teeth requiring treatment, absence of flare-ups, teeth not used as an abutment for prosthesis, primary endodontic therapy, treatment of either molar or non-molar teeth (as opposed to both conditions), smaller periapical lesion size, and single-visit treatmentConclusions: Our findings reveal high overall general satisfaction, with chewing ability generating the highest contentment. Cost and treatment duration were areas of concern. Demographics, clinical variables, and treatment settings played roles in shaping perceptions. These findings offer insights for enhancing endodontic care and patient satisfaction outcomes.

Keywords

• endodontics
• healthcare costs
• patient satisfaction
• quality of life
• root canal therapy
• treatment outcome