Expert consensus on difficulty assessment of endodontic therapy.

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Endodontics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Endodontic diseases are chronic oral infections requiring effective treatment.
• Traditional root canal therapy (RCT) involves pulp tissue removal and gutta-percha filling.
• Thorough debridement and prevention of reinfection are crucial for RCT success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance understanding of root canal anatomy and RCT technique sensitivity.
• To improve management of endodontic diseases and periapical lesions.
• To establish a clinical difficulty assessment system for RCT.

Main Methods:

• Review of recent research on bacterial etiology and advanced imaging.
• Development of a clinical difficulty assessment system based on patient, tooth, and root canal factors.
• Analysis of risk factors influencing RCT outcomes.

Main Results:

• RCT success is multifactorial, influenced by patient, infection, anatomy, and technique.
• A clinical difficulty assessment system aids in pre-treatment risk evaluation.
• Risk factors correlate with the challenge of achieving high-standard RCT.

Conclusions:

• Improved disease management is essential for combating endodontic diseases.
• The clinical difficulty assessment system supports treatment planning and referral decisions.
• Insights enhance practitioner education and clinical practice in endodontics.