Current Trends in Regenerative Endodontics: A Web-based Survey

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to ascertain the current trends in regenerative endodontic procedures (REPs) among clinicians, including case selection criteria and clinical protocols.

Methods: An online questionnaire consisting of provider demographics, case selection criteria for REPs, and clinical protocols was made available to members of the American Association of Endodontists and members of the Endolit website. Data were analyzed using the Fisher exact test.

Results: Two hundred seventy-two responses were analyzed (64.6% were men and 34.7% were women). Of those, 44.5% of respondents practiced in the United States, and 55.5% practiced outside of the Unites States. Most respondents (85.4%) reported performing REPs in their practice, and 92.2% were using sodium hypochlorite as one of their disinfecting irrigants. Calcium hydroxide was the most commonly used intracanal medicament (68.4%), and the majority of respondents use a blood clot alone as the scaffold (73.5%). Most (93%) of the providers reported using a bioceramic material for coronal capping. Practitioners outside the United States were found to be more likely to use adjunctive irrigation activation (P = .003). Younger practitioners preferred REPs over apexification (P = .01). Practitioners outside the United States were more likely to perform an REP in 1 visit (P = .006). Men were found to be more likely to always instrument the canal walls (P = .031). Women were found to be more likely to use manual irrigant activation, whereas men were more likely to use sonic activation (P = .043).

Conclusions: There is significant heterogeneity within REPs regarding case selection and clinical protocol. Notable differences were observed from the reported findings of REPs from 5 years ago.

Keywords: Guided tissue repair; pulp regeneration; regenerative endodontic procedures; regenerative endodontics; revascularization.