OR18 - Frequency of Immediate Coronal Restoration of the Endodontically Treated Tooth and a Quantitative Analysis for the Year 2022

Abstract:
A coronal restoration as the last step in the root canal procedure is vital to limiting recontamination and restoring the function of endodontically treated teeth. This study investigated the time gap between endodontic treatment and coronal restorations to determine delays when treatment was done by an endodontist versus a general dentist. Data was received from a commercial dental insurance claims data warehouse from 70 U.S. dental insurance plans and multiple carriers. Current Dental Terminology (CDT) codes were pulled for endodontists and general dentists. The CDT codes were analyzed for claims associated with root canal treatment or retreatment completed in 2022 and the respective post-root canal restorative codes starting in 2022 and into September 2023. The data were grouped into four categories depending on whether the final restoration was received the same day, <30 days, <180 days, and >180 days. The total number of claims included 2,752,689 root canals, with 43% of root canals completed by endodontists and 57% by general dentists. Fifteen percent of root canals completed by endodontists had a direct coronal restoration at the same appointment. General dentists completed root canal treatment and restoration the same day 45% of the time. Endodontists completed significantly fewer same-day restorations but had more restorations completed less than 30 days from root canal treatment. The findings of this study suggest that general dentists are more likely to perform root canal treatment and the restoration on the same day compared to endodontists.