(PR151) The Extent of Patient Recall System Amongst Endodontists: An Updated National Survey

Objective: After root canal treatment, apical periodontitis often resolves within 12 months; however, according to studies by Ørstavik and Andreasen, healing can take up to 4 years. Therefore, a recall system for monitoring outcomes is essential. A 1998 study by Molen found that only 21% of AAE members had a 12-month recall system. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of patient recall systems amongst endodontists in the U.S. today.

Methods: From August to September 2024, a link to a 20-question, anonymous, voluntary web-based survey was posted online in various forums, including AAE Endodontic Resident Research Community, TDO-Clinical, and an email to active/retired/separated Army endodontists. Kruskal-Wallis, chi-squared, and Mann-Whitney U-tests assessed group differences, with Shapiro-Wilk tests confirming normality; p<0.05 indicated significance. Analyses used SPSS 25's complex sample package.

Results: 108 people responded to the survey. Overall, 78 respondents (72%) utilize a recall system, with experienced practitioners more likely to use one (p < 0.01). Recall intervals were most commonly 6 months (43.3%) or 1 year (83.3%), primarily triggered by the need for recall in all patients (52.6%), periapical lesions (43.6%), surgical treatment (41%), deep probing depth (32.1%), or nonsurgical root canal treatment (30.8%).

Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, while a majority (72%) of endodontists utilize recall systems, the most common intervals are significantly shorter than the potential healing period. This discrepancy highlights the need for improved long-term monitoring strategies in endodontic practice.