INTRODUCTION:

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form. With the removal of nerves and blood supply from the tooth, it is best that the tooth be fitted with a crown. In the situation that a tooth is considered so threatened because of decay, cracking, etc. That future infection is considered likely or inevitable, a pulpectomy, removal of the pulp tissue, is advisable to prevent such infection. Usually, some inflammation or infection is already present within or below the tooth. To cure the infection and save the tooth, the dentist drills into the pulp chamber and removes the infected pulp and then drills the nerve out of the root canal with long needle-shaped hand instruments known as files (H files and K files).

Starting with a smaller file size, progressively larger files are used to widen the canals. This process serves to remove debris and infected tissue and facilitates greater penetration of an irrigating solution.

The following substances may be used as root canal irrigants during the root canal procedure: less than 5% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 6% sodium hypochlorite with surface modifiers for better flow into nooks and crannies, 2% chlorhexidine gluconate, 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate plus 0.2% cetrimide, 17% ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), Framycetin sulfate, Mixture of citric acid, doxycycline, and polysorbate 80 (detergent) (MTAD). After this is done, the dentist fills each of the root canals and the chamber with an inert material and seals up the opening.

The standard filling material is gutta-percha, a natural polymer prepared from latex from the percha (Palaquium gutta) tree. The standard endodontic technique involves inserting a gutta-percha cone into the cleaned-out root canal along with a sealing cement. This procedure is known as root canal therapy.The difficulties related to root canal treatment, including pain associated with it has been still persisting among patients [1-6]. Pain control can be difficult to achieve at times because of Anaesthetic inactivation by the acidity of the abscess around the tooth apex. Sometimes the abscess can be drained, antibiotics prescribed, and the procedure reattempted when inflammation has mitigated. The tooth can also be unroofed to allow drainage and help relieve pressure. Many patients feels stress related with the planned endodontic treatment. Publications on patients awareness on endodontic procedures are rare. Contemporary endodontics is developing continuously. It concerns not only the instruments, but also the treatment procedures. The basic principle of modern endodontics is painlessness and effectiveness of the treatment. There are many methods to reduce pain during treatment: local and conduction anesthesia, nitrous oxide or even general anesthesia [7]. Proper interview with the patient helps in deciding on the appropriate treatment, especially in case of endodontic treatment, which often prevents tooth loss [7]. In all professions based on the work with other people, understanding of motivational processes and skills of using knowledge is very important. These factors are particularly important in everyday practice of a dentist. Properly conducted interview with the patient helps in deciding on the appropriate therapeutic treatment, especially with regard to endodontics, which often prevents tooth loss.There are many reports on the health behaviours of patients concerning oral health and hygiene [1,2,4,6,8,9]. In this article, information about patients awareness with regard to endodontic treatment an attempt to analyze this problem has been undertaken. The study aimed to assess patients experience and knowledge about endodontic treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Questionnaire based survey was conducted in a group of 400 patients in Saveetha Dental College. The questionnaire is designed as a multiple choice question which is based on their experience, their concerns, their expectations and also their knowledge about endodontic treatment. After data collection statistical analysis was done using SPSS software.

RESULT:

Table-1: Patients awareness towards endodontic treatment

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1-Media	8	2.0	2.0	2.0
	2-Friends	104	26.0	26.0	28.0
	3-Family	176	44.0	44.0	72.0
	4-Internet	71	17.8	17.8	89.8
	5-Medical experience	41	10.3	10.3	100.0
	Total	400	100.0	100.0

Table-2: Patients experience towards the treatment

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1-Comfortable	334	83.5	83.5	83.5
	2-Uncomfortable	66	16.5	16.5	100.0
	Total	400	100.0	100.0

Table-3: Pain during treatment

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1-Yes	252	63.0	63.0	63.0
	2-No	148	37.0	37.0	100.0
	Total	400	100.0	100.0

Table-4: Patients rating of pain

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1-(0-3)	178	44.5	44.5	44.5
	2-(4-6)	81	20.3	20.3	64.8
	3-(7-10)	141	35.3	35.3	100.0
	Total	400	100.0	100.0

Table-5:Preference of patients in multiple and single sitting endodontic treatment

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1-single	141	35.3	35.3	35.3
	2-multiple	259	64.8	64.8	100.0
	Total	400	100.0	100.0

Table-6: Patients awareness of endodontic treatment towards pregnant women

		Frequeny	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1-Yes	215	53.8	53.8	53.8
	2-No	185	46.3	46.3	100.0
	Total	400	100.0	100.0

Table-7: Patients preference for endodontic treatment and extraction

		Frequency	Percent	Valid Percent	Cumulative Percent
Valid	1-Endodontic treatment	170	42.5	42.5	42.5
	2-extraction	230	57.5	57.5	100.0
	Total	400	100.0	100.0

DISCUSSION:

The study attempted to study the awareness and knowledge among patients about endodontic treatment. The survey was conducted among 400 patients that consists of both males and females between the age group of 15-66. It has been revealed that they have gained awareness through various means and through medical experience 10% , Internet 17%, family 44% , friends 26% and 2% from media (Table 1). Patients experience towards the treatment 80% were comfortable and 20% were uncomfortable. It says that the treatment was comfortable for many patients and also their satisfaction towards the treatment (Table 2). 63% experienced pain during the treatment and 37% had no pain (Table 3). Pain is calculated using visual analog scale (VAS). 35% from 7-10 , 20% from 4-6, 45% from 0-3. In this case the patients with pain was not severe (Table 4). 65% patients prefer multiple sitting and 35% prefer single sitting according to their expectation for the treatment and also their knowledge towards the treatment (Table 5). 53% says that endodontic treatment can be done for Pregnant women's and 47% says treatment should not be done in case of pregnant women's (Table 6). 58% of people prefer extraction and 42% of people prefer endodontic treatment that shows that in recent years the knowledge towards endodontic treatment has grown (Table 7). The use of modern tools, rubber dam, and the microscope in daily practice, significantly influence the quality and durability of treatment effects. Patients can be benefited from many forms to reduce pain by the use of local anesthesia, nitrous oxide and according to recent reports, they enhances the effect of their actions. Another form of premedication are preoperative intravenous sedatives and analgesics. General anesthesia is also used as the alternative to subside pain [10]. Recent study conducted in 2014 says that only 26% had awareness and 33% had an average awareness about endodontic treatment. The knowledge of patients about endodontic treatment has increased significantly. It is not only due to school education, but also mainly due to mass media – television, the Internet, family, friends. Patients are aware of the opportunities offered by the modern clinics – not just immediate relief from pain, but also carrying out treatment at the highest level and the necessary postoperative care allowing observation of results achieved and that enables immediate intervention in case of worsening of symptoms and also monitoring the effects of treatment [11,12].

CONCLUSION:

An improvement of knowledge and awareness of patients about the endodontic treatment has been observed through the study.

REFERENCE:

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Received on 21.05.2016 Modified on 09.06.2016

Research J. Pharm. and Tech 2016; 9(10):1565-1567.

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