[Intracanal medication used in general dentistry]

In order to investigate the use of intracanal substances during root canal treatment 400 dentists were asked to take part in a questionnaire survey. Questions related to the substances used, the reason for use and the way they were used. Studied were the possible influences by the variables 'year of graduation', 'number of patients in practice', 'dental school'. The results show a general use of sodiumhypochlorite and calciumhydroxide. Also a frequent use of substances with possible systemic side effects was reported. A positive trend is the fewer use of these medicaments by dentists who qualified more recently.