Why, when, and how general practitioners restore endodontically treated teeth: a representative survey in Germany

Area of Science:

• Dental Restorative Materials
• Endodontics
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Restoration of endodontically treated teeth (ETT) requires careful consideration of techniques and materials.
• Previous surveys indicate evolving trends in post-endodontic restorations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess current opinions, applied techniques, and materials for restoring endodontically treated teeth (ETT) nationwide in Germany.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide survey was conducted among dentists in Germany.
• 1,648 completed questionnaires were returned, yielding a 63% response rate.

Main Results:

• Fiber posts were the most popular post material, especially for single crowns (69%).
• Adhesive composite resins were favored for core build-ups (75%) and post luting (49%).
• The ferrule effect was recognized as a key success factor by 88% of dentists.

Conclusions:

• Adhesive composite core build-ups, often with fiber posts, represent the predominant approach for restoring ETT in Germany.
• Widespread agreement exists on the importance of the ferrule effect for indirect restorations.
• While glass-fiber posts are popular, the choice of systems varies, with reasons remaining unclear.