Factors Affecting Treatment Decisions and Outcomes of Root‐Resected Molars: A Nationwide Study

• Published in: Journal of periodontology (1970) 2013-11, Vol.84 (11), p.1528-1535
• Main Authors: Yuh, Da‐Yo, Cheng, Guo‐Liang, Chien, Wu‐Chien, Chung, Chi‐Hsiang, Lin, Fu‐Gong, Shieh, Yi‐Shing, Fang, Wen‐Hui, Mau, Lian‐Ping, Fu, Earl, Huang, Ren‐Yeong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age Factors; Aged; Cohort Studies; Cohort study; Decision Making; Dentistry; Female; furcation defects; Furcation Defects - surgery; Hospitals - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Income - statistics & numerical data; Male; Middle Aged; molar; Molar - surgery; Patient Care Planning; periodontics; Population Surveillance; Private Practice - statistics & numerical data; Proportional Hazards Models; Residence Characteristics - statistics & numerical data; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Flaps - surgery; Survival Rate; Taiwan; Tooth Extraction - statistics & numerical data; tooth loss; Tooth Root - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Urbanization
• ISSN: 0022-3492; 1943-3670
• DOI: 10.1902/jop.2013.120580

Background: Treatment of furcation‐involved molars presents a clinical challenge. This study retrospectively investigates the demographic parameters affecting treatment decisions and outcomes of root‐resected molars using a nationwide population‐based dataset. Methods: De‐identified data from 471 eligible patients were obtained from a representative cohort composed of 1 million of Taiwan's population. Demographic factors that influence treatment decisions and outcomes of root‐resected teeth were examined. Cox regression was performed to statistically analyze the factors. Results: The overall survival rate for root‐resected molars was 91.1%. The survival times of the extracted and surviving teeth were 303.0 ± 274.6 and 551.8 ± 327.2 days, respectively (P 74 years have 3.33 times (hazard ratio = 3.33; 95% CI = 1.04 to 10.66; P = 0.043) higher rates of molar extraction than younger counterparts. Conclusions: The overall survival rate of root‐resected molars was satisfactory. Patients with advanced age (>74 years) had a higher risk of extraction occurrence on resected molars. Patient‐related factors may influence the treatment decision of whether molars receive flap surgery. These findings suggest that demographic factors should be carefully evaluated before and after performing root‐resection procedures because these factors may eventually impact the outcome of root‐resected molars.