Thuan Dao

CLINICAL RESEARCH Treatment Outcome in Endodontics—The Toronto Study. Phase II: Initial Treatment

Outcome 4-6 years after initial treatment was assessed for Phase 4 (2000-2001) of the Toronto Study. Of 582 teeth treated, 430 were lost to follow-up (99 discontinuers, 331 dropouts), 15 were extracted, and 137 (32% recall minus 15 extracted teeth) were examined for outcome: healed (no apical periodontitis, signs, symptoms) or diseased. When pooled with Phases 1-3, 439 of 510 teeth (86%) were healed. Logistic regression identified 2 significant (P < or = .05) preoperative outcome predictors: radiolucency (odds ratio [OR], 2.86; confidence interval [CI], 1.56-5.24; healed: absent, 93%; present, 82%) and number of roots (OR, 2.53; CI, 1.25-5.13; healed: single, 93%; multiple, 84%). In teeth with radiolucency, intraoperative complications (OR, 2.27; CI, 1.05-4.89; healed: absent, 84%; present, 69%) and root-filling technique (OR, 1.89; CI, 1.01-3.53; healed: lateral, 77%; vertical, 87%) were additional outcome predictors. A better outcome was suggested for teeth without radiolucency, with single roots, and without mid-treatment complications. The predictive value of root-filling technique in teeth with radiolucency requires validation from randomized controlled trials.

An Interfaculty Pain Curriculum: Lessons learned from six years experience

Abstract Minimal pain content has been documented in pre‐licensure curricula and students lack important pain knowledge at graduation. To address this problem, we have implemented and evaluated a mandatory Interfaculty Pain Curriculum (IPC) yearly since 2002 for students (N = 817 in 2007) from six Health Science Faculties/Departments. The 20‐h pain curriculum continues to involve students from Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy as part of their 2nd or 3rd year program. Evaluation methods based on Kirkpatrick’s model now include evaluation of a Comprehensive Pain Management Plan along with the previously used Pain Knowledge and Beliefs Questionnaire (PKPQ) and Daily Content and Process Questionnaires (DCPQ). Important lessons have been learned and subsequent changes made in this iterative curriculum design based on extensive evaluation over the 6‐year period. Modifications have included case development more relevant to the diverse student groups, learning contexts that are uni‐, inter‐, and multi‐professional, and facilitator development in working with interprofessional student groups. PKBQ scores have improved in all years with a statistically significant average change on correct responses from 14% to 17%. The DCPQ responses have also indicated consistently that most students (85–95%) rated highly the patient panel, expert‐lead clinically focused sessions, and small interprofessional groups. Relevancy and organization of the information presented have been generally rated highly from 80.3% to 91.2%. This curriculum continues to be a unique and valuable learning opportunity as we utilize lessons learned from extensive evaluation to move the pain agenda forward with pre‐licensure health science students.

Clinical ResearchTreatment Outcome in Endodontics—The Toronto Study. Phases I and II: Apical Surgery

This study prospectively assessed the 4 to 8 yr outcome of apical surgery performed by graduate students in phases I and II of the Toronto Study. The study cohort included 155 teeth in 138 patients. Outcome was assessed by a blinded and calibrated examiner. Clinical and radiographic measures were used for a dichotomous outcome: healed (no signs and symptoms, Periapical Index score </= 2 or scar), or diseased (presence of signs and symptoms, or Periapical Index score >/= 3). The recall rate was 85% and the overall healed rate 74%. Healed rate was significantly higher for teeth with small (</= 5 mm) than larger preoperative lesions (chi, p = 0.02). Logistic Regression revealed an increased odds of disease persistence for teeth with larger preoperative lesions (OR = 3.81, CI = 1.2-12.1), and preoperative root-filling of adequate length (OR = 3.7, CI = 1.1-11.1). Preoperative lesion size and root-filling length were significant predictors of outcome of apical surgery.

Impacts of Conservative Endodontic Cavity on Root Canal Instrumentation Efficacy and Resistance to Fracture Assessed in Incisors, Premolars, and Molars

INTRODUCTION Conservative endodontic cavity (CEC) may improve fracture resistance of teeth but compromise the instrumentation of canals. This study assessed the impacts of CEC on both variables in 3 tooth types. METHODS Extracted human intact maxillary incisors, mandibular premolars, and molars (n = 20/type) were imaged with micro-computed tomographic imaging (20-μm resolution) and assigned to CEC or traditional endodontic cavity (TEC) groups (n = 10/group/type). Minimal CECs were plotted on scanned images. Canals were prepared with WaveOne instruments (Dentsply Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland) using 1.25% sodium hypochlorite and post-treatment micro-computed tomographic images obtained. The proportion of the untouched canal wall (UCW) and the dentin volume removed (DVR) for each tooth type was analyzed with the independent-samples t test. The 60 instrumented and 30 intact teeth (negative control, n = 10/type) were loaded to fracture in the Instron Universal Testing machine (Instron, Canton, MA) (1 mm/min), and the data were analyzed with 1-way analysis of variance and the Tukey test. RESULTS The mean proportion of UCW was significantly higher (P < .04) only in the distal canals of molars with CEC (57.2% ± 21.7%) compared with TEC (36.7% ± 17.2%). The mean DVR was significantly smaller (P < .003) for CEC than for TEC in incisors (16.09 ± 4.66 vs 23.24 ± 3.38 mm(3)), premolars (8.24 ± 1.64 vs 14.59 ± 4.85 mm(3)), and molars (33.37 ± 67.71 mm(3)). The mean load at fracture for CEC was significantly higher (P < .05) than for TEC in premolars (586.8 ± 116.9 vs 328.4 ± 56.7 N) and molars (1586.9 ± 196.8 vs 641.7 ± 62.0 N). In both tooth types, CEC did not differ significantly from the negative controls. CONCLUSIONS Although CEC was associated with the risk of compromised canal instrumentation only in the molar distal canals, it conserved coronal dentin in the 3 tooth types and conveyed a benefit of increased fracture resistance in mandibular molars and premolars.

Mapping of pain curricula across health professions programs at the University of Toronto

ABSTRACT Background: There is a growing societal need for health professional competency in pain care. The University of Toronto Centre for the Study of Pain–Interfaculty Pain Curriculum (UTCSP-IPC) has been offered since 2002. Content and process have been updated annually. In addition, participating health professions programs have advanced their pain teaching. A curricular scan was needed to creatively and constructively advance the UTCSP-IPC. Aim: The aim of this study was to map curricular pain content in participating health professions programs onto the UTCSP-IPC content as a first step to further curriculum design. Methods: UTCSP-IPC committee members and faculty representatives from six health profession programs completed a 27-item online survey in this collaborative action study. Descriptive statistics were completed in Microsoft Excel. Results: The UTCSP-IPC provided an average of 43.3% (range 32%–62%) of total pain content teaching hours to participating health professions students and a range of 8% to 100% of total opioid-related teaching hours. Curricular overlaps and gaps in pain content were identified and will be used to update and inform the iterative design of the UTCSP-IPC. Ninety-three percent of participating health professions faculty indicated that the interprofessional focus on pain care in the UTCSP-IPC was important. Conclusion: This study highlighted the value of the UTCSP and areas of curricular refinement to ensure continued relevance in relationship to pain content within the six participating health professions programs. Mapping a coordinated approach between uniprofessional and interprofessional teaching will both meet the demands of professional competence and create greater applicability to future practice settings.