Summary:
Purpose: To investigate the frequency and characteristics of surgery among active endodontists in the United States. The survey also inquired about residency and post-residency training in endodontic surgery.
N=1,045 respondents
Materials/Methods: •A Web-based questionnaire of 14 questions regarding endodontic surgery was distributed via e-mail to 2,532 active members of the AAE in the US (TABLE 1)
Most highlighted Results:
•The response rate was 41%
•47.3% indicated that microsurgical technique was not included in their residency program
•91.2% are performing root-end surgery in their practice
•89.6% using the operating microscope and ultrasonic instrumentation. •33.3% felt their endodontic residency training in surgery was inadequate •47.9% went on to acquire additional training post-residency
•The anterior maxilla is the most common site of endodontic surgery
•The most difficult process for surgery is access and visualization followed by root-end filling
•53.9% they are not referring any of their surgical cases, whereas 34.3% referring some endodontic surgery to oral surgeons; 6.6% they are placing implants
Clinical significance:
There is a need to improve the quality of endodontic surgery training in residency programs
