Effect of presentation bias on selection of treatment option for failed endodontic therapy

The purpose of the study was to determine if treatment option presentation bias affects decision making by patients when they have failed endodontic therapy.

First-year dental students simulated the role of patients. All students were given the same scenario of a symptomatic tooth with failed endodontic therapy and asked to select from between 2 treatment options: nonsurgical endodontic retreatment or extraction and implant placement. One half of the students had characterizations of the treatment options biased toward nonsurgical retreatment, and the other half had characterizations of the treatment options biased toward extraction and implant selection. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-squared test.

Biased presentations significantly influenced the treatment selection by the students (P = .0006).

If treatment options are presented in a biased manner to favor one option, the patient is more likely to select that treatment option.