The scope and pattern of practice in the delivery of endodontic treatment in Malaysia: A survey study

Abstract

The study aimed to compare the scope and pattern of practice between general dental practitioners (GDPs), restorative dentistry specialists and endodontists. Self-administered postal questionnaires were distributed to 22 restorative dentistry specialists, 16 endodontists and a random sample of 566 GDPs. The pre-tested questionnaire inquired about demographic data, endodontic practices and referrals. Fisher’s exact test with Bonferroni adjustment was performed for pairwise comparisons. The overall response rate was 73.8%. The restorative dentistry specialists and the endodontists performed a wider array of endodontic procedures than the GDPs and were more consistent in the use of specific armamentarium (p<0.017). Endodontists were referred to mostly for cases requiring advanced endodontic skills, while restorative dentistry specialists were mainly consulted for second opinions, pain and restorative management. GDPs should be encouraged to further their education on endodontic practice. Overlapping scope of practice and referrals among the specialists, merits scrutiny to optimize resources and manpower.