Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40879139›Full record

ArticleInternational endodontic journal2025

Patient Satisfaction and Long-Term Outcomes: A 7- to 9-Year Prospective Cohort Study of Root Canal Treatment in the Swedish Public Dental Service.

Emma Wigsten, Anita Afkhami, Hosaina Afewerki, Anna Levinsson, EndoReCo, Thomas Kvist

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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 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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.

Emma WigstenDepartment of Endodontology, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0001-9914-8205
Anita AfkhamiDepartment of Endodontology, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0009-0003-1825-0569
Hosaina AfewerkiDepartment of Endodontology, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0009-0003-3869-7587
Anna LevinssonDepartment of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-8357-2703
EndoReCo
Thomas KvistDepartment of Endodontology, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-2685-3656

Funding

Public Dental Service in Västra Götaland Region, and the Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg 1006570Public Dental Service in Västra Götaland Region, and the Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg 995317
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimThis prospective follow-up study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with root canal treatment (RCT) 7-9 years after initiation in a general dental practice setting.

methodA study population of 243 patients initiated RCT at 20 public dental clinics in the Västra Götaland Region, Sweden. One to 3 years later, 159 patients (67.4%) responded to an 8-item questionnaire assessing patient satisfaction with RCT and treatment results. The questionnaire was sent out again 7-9 years after treatment initiation. Descriptive and analytical statistics were used to compare respondents and non-respondents, tooth groups and comparison over time.

resultsA total of 156 patients (72.2%) responded to the 7-9 years' questionnaire; 82 women (52.6%) and 74 men (47.4%) with a mean age of 59.3 years (SD = ±15.3). Non-respondents were significantly younger (p < 0.001). The majority of RCTs were reported as completed with a root filling (n = 102, 65.4%), although significantly fewer molars were completed (n = 43, 56.6%; p < 0.001). Sixty-six patients (63.5%) reported no current pain, while most of those reporting pain described it as mild (n = 30, 90.9%). More than half of the root filled incisors were associated with current pain (n = 15, 57.7%; p < 0.009). A total of 111 patients (76.0%) recalled the procedure as painful. Chewing ability received the highest satisfaction rating (mean = 1.3). The majority of patients reported they would choose RCT again (n = 114, 77.0%). Among the 17 who answered 'No', 13 had undergone extraction, and 3 reported persistent pain following RCT. Over time, the number of extracted teeth increased (p < 0.001), while current pain intensity decreased and retrospective satisfaction with RCT improved (p < 0.001).

conclusionsSeven to nine years after the initiation of RCT in this general dental practice setting, patient satisfaction remains high despite one-third of treated teeth being reported as extracted. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating patient-reported outcomes in the evaluation of dental procedures, including endodontic treatments.

Indexed as

Patient SatisfactionRoot Canal TherapyAdultAgedFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSurveys and QuestionnairesSwedenTreatment Outcomeendodonticsgeneral dental carepain intensitypatient‐centred carequestionnaireroot canal therapy

Identifiers

PMID40879139
PMCPMC12620333

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