Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition No. 3, 2016

07Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition | 3/2016 WORLD NEWS By DTI GOTHENBURG,Sweden:Anewsurvey haslinkedthequalityofrootfillingsto thelevelofstressdentistsexperience in performing the procedure and the fee charged. Some dentists reported that“good enough”was often a more realistic goal than optimal quality in lightofthecomplexityofrootfillings andinsufficienttimeallocatedowing to the associated treatment tariff, amongotherreasons. According to the study, which was conducted as part of a doctoral thesis attheSahlgrenskaAcademy,onlyhalf ofallrootfillingsthatareperformedin the Swedish public dental service are ofgoodquality.Moreover,morethan one-third of root fillings show signs ofapicalperiodontitis,whichcanlead to acute symptoms, such as pain and swelling,andmayevenspreadandbe- comelife-threateninginsomecases. Aiming to investigate the reasons dentists accept technically poor root fillings, Lisbeth Dahlström, a senior dental officer and researcher at the Sahlgrenska Academy, conducted group interviews with 33 dentists from the Swedishpublicdentalservice. The results showed that treatment was often associ- ated with negative feelings, suchasstressandfrustration, anditwascommonfortreat- ment to be performed with a sense of a loss of control owing to the perceived tech- nicaldifficulty.Anothercause of dentists accepting poorer root fillings was that allotted timefortreatmentaccording tothefeechargedwasinsuffi- cient,participantsreported. “The dentist then finds they are facing a dilemma, to ‘go back’ to the treatment, to optimize quality, or to offer care within the framework of the com- pensationand,thus,riskacceptingan incomplete root filling,” Dahlström explained. Regarding quality, the dentists in- terviewedreporteduncertaintyasto what constitutes reasonably accept- ablequality.AccordingtoDahlström, theyoftenstatedthat“goodenough” was a more realistic goal than op- timal quality. However, despite the difficulties experienced, the survey alsoshowedthatthedentistswanted to provide good treatment and that they were very concerned about their patients, the researchersaid. In order to improve the quality of root fillings, Dahlström suggested measures such as in- creased opportunity for continuing education, time for discussion and exchange of experiences attheworkplace,aswellas investmentinequipment that enhances treatment, shortensthetimeneeded andimprovesvisibility. Each year, approxima- tely 250,000 root fillings are done in Sweden and ithasbeenestimatedthat there are at least 2.5 mil- lion root-filled teeth af- fectedbyperiapicalperiodontitis. Dahlström defended her thesis, titled “On root-filling quality in generaldentalpractice”,on4March. Poor root ﬁllings result of stress and ﬁnancial pressure in dentistry A survey among Swedish dentists has established the potential for improving the quality of root ﬁllings and thus reducing persistent inﬂammation associated with inadequate treatment. Fast, High-Quality Images Full Size 4c Image Plate – No Stitching Magnetic Tray Extends IP Life Network and TWAIN interfaces Expanding Digital Imaging - FireCR Dental PSP System Visit us at BOOTH B52 at the DENTISTRY SHOW! www.3DISCimaging.com DENTISTRY SHOW! AD DTUK0316_07_News 12.04.16 12:05 Seite 1 DTUK0316_07_News 12.04.1612:05 Seite 1

Dental Tribune United Kingdom Edition No. 3, 2016

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