Frequency and Distribution of Endodontically Treated Teeth

Objective: To determine the distribution and pattern of carious teeth involvement in permanent teeth requiring endodontic treatment. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Dental Section of The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from September 2004 to March 2005. Methodology: Data was collected from the dental records of patients. Tooth was the unit of evaluation. Variables studied were demographics, tooth type, etiology of endodontic treatment and pattern of caries involvement. Data was analyzed using chi-square test and Fischer's exact test. Results: The total number of patients was 190; total number of teeth involved were 235. Females had more endodontically treated teeth than males. There was no significant difference in the distribution of etiology of endodontic treatment in both genders (p=0.564). An increasing trend of endodontic procedure was observed with the increasing age of patients. Caries was the most common etiological factor leading to endodontic treatment (p = 0.011). Class-II cavity i.e. proximal surface of teeth was the most commonly involved surface in endodontically involved teeth (p < 0.001). More molars had been endodontically treated followed by premolars and anterior teeth. Conclusion: Caries was the most common etiologic factor; lower molars were the most commonly involved and lower anteriors the least commonly involved teeth in endodontic procedure. Significant association was observed between etiology and tooth type. Significant association was found between cavity classification and etiology of endodontic treatment with class-II caries being most common.