Tooth- and Patient-Related Conditions May Influence Root Canal Treatment Indication
Table 1
Bivariate analysis associating gender with patient-/tooth-related conditions for RCT indication (n = 207) (Chi-square test; ).
Patient-related conditions
Total n (%)
Men n (%)
Women n (%)
Age
18 to 39 years
144 (69.6)
50 (24.2)
94 (45.4)
0.997
40 to 59 years
49 (23.7)
17 (8.2)
32 (15.5)
≥60 years
14 (6.8)
5 (2.4)
9 (4.3)
Age at the first dental visit
<7 years
26 (12.6)
9 (4.3)
17 (8.2)
0.990
7 to 20 years
163 (78.7)
57 (27.5)
106 (51.2)
>20 years
18 (8.7)
6 (2.9)
12 (5.8)
Frequency of dental hygiene
≥3 times
121 (58.5)
39 (18.8)
82 (39.6)
0.361
≤2 times
86 (41.5)
33 (15.9)
53 (25.6)
Number of permanent teeth
≥29 teeth
57 (27.5)
27 (13.0)
30 (14.5)
0.067
23 to 28 teeth
96 (46.4)
26 (12.6)
70 (33.8)
17 to 22 teeth
36 (17.4)
14 (6.8)
22 (10.6)
≤16 teeth
18 (8.7)
5 (2.4)
13 (6.3)
Number of teeth with previous RCT
None
51 (24.6)
27 (13.0)
24 (11.6)
0.005
1 tooth
108 (52.2)
28 (13.5)
80 (38.6)
2 to 3 teeth
37 (17.9)
15 (7.2)
22 (10.6)
≥4 teeth
11 (5.3)
2 (1.0)
9 (4.3)
Number of teeth indicated for RCT
1 tooth
166 (80.2)
54 (26.1)
112 (54.1)
0.570
2 teeth
30 (14.5)
13 (6.3)
17 (8.2)
3 teeth
6 (2.9)
3 (1.4)
3 (1.4)
4 teeth
5 (2.4)
2 (1.0)
3 (1.4)
Tooth-related conditions
Tooth position
Mandible
54 (26.1)
26 (12.6)
28 (13.5)
0.016
Maxilla
153 (73.9)
46 (22.2)
107 (51.7)
Tooth group
Incisor/canine
88 (42.5)
36 (17.4)
52 (25.1)
0.097
Premolar
93 (44.9)
25 (12.1)
68 (32.9)
Molar
26 (12.6)
11 (5.3)
15 (7.2)
Waiting time for RCT
Up to 15 days
142 (68.6)
51 (24.6)
91 (44.0)
0.877
15 to 30 days
19 (9.2)
6 (2.9)
13 (6.3)
≥30 days
46 (22.2)
15 (7.2)
31 (15.0)
Pulpal diagnosis
Normal pulp
9 (4.3)
3 (1.4)
6 (2.9)
0.702
Necrosis
130 (62.8)
49 (23.7)
81 (39.1)
Asymptomatic irreversible pulpitis
29 (14.0)
9 (4.3)
20 (9.7)
Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis
39 (18.8)
11 (5.3)
28 (13.5)
Periapical diagnosis
PAI 1
92 (44.4)
30 (14.5)
62 (30.0)
0.392
PAI 2 and 3
71 (34.3)
29 (14.0)
42 (20.3)
PAI 4 and 5
44 (21.3)
13 (6.3)
31 (15.0)
Consideration of patient’s report during diagnosisa
No
80 (38.6)
36 (17.4)
44 (21.3)
0.014
Yes
127 (61.4)
36 (17.4)
91 (44.0)
Symptomatic at the clinical appointment
No
123 (59.4)
51 (24.6)
72 (34.8)
0.015
Yes
84 (40.6)
21 (10.1)
63 (30.4)
Pain duration before RCT
Without pain
88 (42.5)
32 (15.5)
56 (27.1)
0.907
Up to 15 days
24 (11.6)
7 (3.4)
17 (8.2)
16 to 30 days
31 (15.0)
10 (4.8)
21 (10.1)
>30 days
64 (30.9)
23 (11.1)
41 (19.8)
Dental crown condition
Healthy
10 (4.8)
7 (9.7)
3 (2.2)
0.018
Satisfactory restoration
12 (5.8)
4 (5.6)
8 (5.9)
Unsatisfactory restoration
94 (45.4)
25 (34.7)
69 (51.1)
Dental caries
71 (34.3)
25 (34.7)
46 (34.1)
Crown fracture or wear caused by bruxism
20 (9.7)
11 (15.3)
9 (6.7)
Type of restorative materialb
Temporary material
54 (48.2)
14 (12.5)
40 (35.7)
0.260
Porcelain/ceramic
2 (1.8)
0 (0)
2 (1.8)
Composite resin
42 (37.5)
12 (10.7)
30 (26.8)
Amalgam
14 (12.5)
7 (6.3)
7 (6.3)
Number of restored surfacesb
1 face
36 (32.1)
11 (9.8)
25 (22.3)
0.936
2 faces
49 (43.8)
15 (13.4)
34 (30.4)
3 faces
21 (18.8)
5 (4.5)
16 (14.3)
≥4 faces
6 (5.4)
2 (1.8)
4 (3.6)
Tooth substance loss
None
21 (10.1)
8 (3.9)
13 (6.3)
0.956
≤1/3
129 (62.3)
45 (21.7)
84 (40.6)
1/2
40 (19.3)
14 (6.8)
26 (12.6)
≥2/3
17 (8.2)
5 (2.4)
12 (5.8)
Indication for periodontal surgery
No
177 (85.5)
66 (31.9)
111 (53.6)
0.066
Yes
30 (14.5)
6 (2.9)
24 (11.6)
Type of restoration after RCT
Direct
162 (78.3)
60 (29.0)
102 (49.3)
0.196
Indirect
45 (21.7)
12 (5.8)
33 (15.9)
RCT, root canal treatment; PAI, periapical index score. aSum of both patient’s report during the anamnesis and clinical tests (e.g., cold sensibility test, tenderness to percussion and palpation). bStatistical analysis was performed using 112 teeth, only including cases presenting some restorative material.
