Recommendations for endodontic referral among practitioners in a dental HMO

D J Caplan; G Reams; J A Weintraub

doi:10.1016/S0099-2399(06)81174-X

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Recommendations for endodontic referral among practitioners in a dental HMO

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Recommendations for endodontic referral among practitioners in a dental HMO

D J Caplan, G Reams and J A Weintraub

Journal of endodontics, Vol.25(5), pp.369-375

05/1999

DOI: 10.1016/S0099-2399(06)81174-X

PMID: 10530264

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Abstract

This study assessed the effect of patients' presenting conditions on general practitioners' (GPs') self-reported endodontic referral patterns, and compared GPs' perceived indications for referral with those of endodontists. The study was based on a self-administered, confidential survey distributed to 79 GPs and 7 endodontists who provide care to members of one Dental HMO in the Pacific Northwest. GPs were most likely to recommend referral for teeth they felt needed surgical retreatment, but GPs and endodontists did not always agree on indications for referral. Compared with GPs, endodontists were more likely to recommend referral for patients with complex problems, but not necessarily technically difficult teeth. Compared with those with less experience, GPs with more than 10 yr both in dentistry and at this HMO were more likely to recommend (a) referring difficult cases rather than performing endodontic therapy themselves and (b) extracting perforated or root-fractured teeth prior to obturation rather than continuing treatment. Indications for referral that maximize favorable dental outcomes need to be identified.

Decision Making

Attitude of Health Personnel

Dental Pulp Diseases - therapy

Dentists - psychology

Humans

Periapical Diseases - therapy

Surveys and Questionnaires

Endodontics

Health Maintenance Organizations

Referral and Consultation - statistics & numerical data

General Practice, Dental - methods

Practice Patterns, Dentists' - statistics & numerical data

Details

Title: Subtitle: Recommendations for endodontic referral among practitioners in a dental HMO
Creators: D J Caplan - Department of Dental Ecology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7450, USA
G Reams
J A Weintraub
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of endodontics, Vol.25(5), pp.369-375
DOI: 10.1016/S0099-2399(06)81174-X
PMID: 10530264
NLM abbreviation: J Endod
ISSN: 0099-2399
eISSN: 1878-3554
Publisher: Elsevier Inc; United States
Grant note: 5T32DE07191-05 / NIDCR NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 05/1999
Academic Unit: Preventive and Community Dentistry
Record Identifier: 9983917683702771

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15 Times Cited - Web of Science