Management of Periodontal Endodontic Lesions by Dentists In Nairobi

Method:

A descriptive cross sectional study design was used to investigate how practicing dentists in Nairobi managed the lesions. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from 81 licensed dentists in Nairobi and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Inc. Chicago, Illinois, USA) version 20.

Result:

The evidence derived from this study showed that these lesions are managed by both general dental practitioners and specialists. Of the dentists interviewed, 67% managed the lesions to their capability then referred the patients to periodontists and endodontists after the lesions did not resolve. 52% of dentists used patients’ presenting complaints, clinical signs and symptoms, radiographs and pulp vitality tests as diagnostic tools. 43% managed what was within their specialities and referred what wasn’t while 38.27% established the kind of lesion,and started managing the primary lesion and proceeded to the secondary lesion which is the recommended mode of management by the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP). 18% of respondents concurrently managed both primary and secondary stages of the lesions. Inspite of a good number of dentists not managing the lesions using the AAP recommended mode, majority of these lesions (71.19%) resolved with no teeth being extracted

Conclusion:

Although the majority of dentists did not adhere to the AAP recommended mode of management of periodontal-endodontic lesions, most lesions were successfully managed with positive results.