Patient Experiences of Root Canal Therapy and Their Influence on Post-Endodontic Restorative Care: A Qualitative Study
Root canal treatment; Dental anxiety; Post-endodontic restoration; Prosthodontic prognosis; Patient experience; Restorative dentistry; Endocrowns
AuthorsAbstractObjective: This study aimed to explore patient experiences during root canal treatment (RCT) and to evaluate how these experiences influence acceptance, timing, and completion of post-endodontic restorative and prosthodontic care. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study design was employed. Adult patients who had undergone RCT were recruited using a convenience sampling approach. Data were collected through a structured open-ended questionnaire addressing pre-treatment perceptions, intra-procedural experiences, pain and anxiety, post-treatment reflections, and attitudes toward definitive restorations such as crowns and endocrowns. Responses were analyzed using thematic analysis, with themes mapped to restorative decision-making pathways relevant to prosthodontic outcomes. Results: Patient experiences during RCT were found to significantly influence willingness to proceed with definitive restorative care. Positive experiences characterized by effective pain control, clear communication, and a supportive clinical environment were associated with timely completion of post-endodontic restorations. Conversely, negative experiences and heightened anxiety contributed to delayed or refused definitive restorations, potentially compromising long-term tooth prognosis. Patient understanding of restorative materials and perceived benefits further affected compliance with prosthodontic recommendations. Conclusion: Patientcentered management of anxiety and pain during RCT plays a critical role in optimizing post-endodontic restorative and prosthodontic outcomes. Clinical Significance: Enhancing communication, addressing patient concerns, and improving education regarding restorative necessity and material longevity may increase acceptance of definitive restorations and support long-term functional success of endodontically treated teeth. 1. Introduction RCT is an essential intervention in the modern dental practice, the purpose of which is to retain teeth with pulpal pathology and retain their functionality in the oral cavity. RCT is not only successful because of the absence of infection but also because of the proper management of the post-endodontic procedure of the treatment, especially in connection with the restoration rehabilitation. Patient-related factors are crucial in dictating the overall success of dental treatment, particularly in instances where definitive restorations are not provided or delayed.¹ Dental anxiety has been singled out as one of the most significant impediments to treatment in relation to treatment acceptance and treatment completion. Dental phobia can affect the cooperation level of patients and perceived pain as well as lead to the avoidance of subsequent treatment. New methods, including teledentistry, have been considered in recent years to enhance patient education and engagement, especially in those areas where patient access to dental care or patient awareness is insufficient.² Although there are improvements in terms of clinical methods and materials, dental phobia is a widely spread problem known to influence both general and specialised dental treatments. The management of anxious patients should be ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Received: 11.11.2024 Accepted: 02.05.2025
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