Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39440881›Full record

ArticleInternational endodontic journal2025

Why do dentists refrain from intervention in cases of persistent asymptomatic apical periodontitis in root canal filled teeth? An interview study among general dental practitioners.

Maria Granevik Lindström, Helena Fransson, Victoria S Dawson, Thomas Kvist, EndoReCo, Eva Wolf

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International endodontic journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Maria Granevik LindströmDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-1529-6284
Helena FranssonDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-4290-2283
Victoria S DawsonDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0003-4332-7962
Thomas KvistDepartment of Endodontology, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-2685-3656
EndoReCoEndodontic Research Collaboration in Scandinavia.
Eva WolfDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Odontology, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-7425-1038

Funding

Region Uppsala
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo explore the context in which general dental practitioners (GDPs) decide to refrain from further treatment, that is, ortho- or retrograde retreatment or extraction of a root canal filled tooth with persistent asymptomatic apical periodontitis (PAAP). METHODOLOGY: Fifteen GDPs were strategically selected for in-depth interviews. The informants were encouraged to describe in their own words and in as much detail as possible, the three most recent patient cases of PAAP of a root canal filled tooth, in which they decided to refrain from further treatment. The interviews were recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. The collected material was analysed according to Qualitative Content Analysis with an inductive approach.

resultsA pattern of varying degrees of uncertainty associated with the decision process was identified. The motives to refrain intervention had great diversity. The result from analysis of the qualitative data was formulated in an overall theme 'Between doubt and certainty in a complex clinical context' covering the latent content. The first main category covering the manifest content was 'The continuum of confidence' with three subcategories 'Experienced uncertainty', 'Reluctant approval' and 'At ease with refraining' illustrating the feelings and attitudes experienced by the informants. The second category was 'In support of acceptance' with three subcategories 'Patient's autonomy, risks and cost-benefits', 'Emotional aspects' and 'Relieving measures' representing the reasons for refraining from intervention.

conclusionsThe decision to refrain from further treatment, that is, ortho- or retrograde retreatment or extraction of a root canal filled tooth with PAAP was made with some measure of confidence, combined with compensatory strategies to support the decision, taking into account not only values beneficial to the patient and awareness of limited external resources, but also factors related to the informants' personal preferences, convenience, concerns, ambition and emotions.

Indexed as

Periapical PeriodontitisRoot Canal TherapyAdultAttitude of Health PersonnelDentistsFemaleGeneral Practice, DentalHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchRetreatmentTooth Extraction[clinical] decision‐makingendodonticsperiapical periodontitisqualitative researchretreatmenttooth extraction

Identifiers

PMID39440881
PMCPMC11715145

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.