Comparing Quality of Life of Patients Undergoing Root Canal Treatment or Tooth Extraction

• Introduction: The knowledge of patient-centered outcomes concerning the consequences of root canal treatment in daily life is limited. The treatment option is often tooth extraction with possible prosthetic replacement. This study aimed to achieve a greater understanding of the patient perspective by evaluating the effect of root canal treatment in terms of quality of life and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) weights in comparison with patients who underwent tooth extraction. Methods: Patients with either root canal treatment or extraction were recruited from 6 clinics in the general public dental service during a predetermined period of 8 weeks. Three different instruments were used: the Oral Health Impact Profile evaluating the oral health related quality of life (OHRQOL), the EQ-5D-5L evaluating health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and QALY weights, and a disease-specific questionnaire evaluating satisfaction regarding the root canal treatment. The evaluation was assessed at the initiation of treatment and after 1 month. Patient-based and tooth-specific characteristics were obtained from the dental records. Results: Eighty-five patients were included. The distribution between sexes was even, with 43 women and 42 men. The mean age was 51.1 years. Forty-eight patients (56.5%) had a tooth extraction, and 37 patients (43.5%) initiated root canal treatment. The response rate for the questionnaire at baseline was 95.3%, and at the 1-month follow-up, it was 74.1%. Two relevant and comparable groups were obtained after exclusion of the extracted third molars (n = 20), resulting in 65 patients for further analyses. At follow-up, the patients who initiated root canal treatment registered a significant improvement in perceived HRQOL according to the QALY weights (P = .02 and P < .01, respectively). Patients initiating root canal treatment reported generally high satisfaction. Conclusions: A cohort of patients either initiating root canal treatment or tooth extraction as a control group was established. Initiating root canal treatment had a positive impact on perceived HRQOL. The included patients in general dental practice registered overall high satisfaction regarding root canal treatment.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Odontologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dentistry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Endodontics

EQ-5D-5L

general dental care

Oral Health Impact Profile

patient-centered outcomes

quality-adjusted life year

oral-health impacts

population

euroqol

satisfaction

validity

age

Dentistry

Oral Surgery & Medicine

Endodontics; EQ-5D-5L; general dental care; Oral Health Impact Profile; patient-centered outcomes; quality-adjusted life year

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)