(PR72) Assessment of Pre-Doctoral Endodontic Referrals to Post-Graduate Endodontics

Abstract: This study investigates referrals from predoctoral to post-doctoral (PG) students in the Department of Endodontics at New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD). The objective is to determine the most common reasons for referral, timing of referrals, and prevalence of iatrogenic errors associated with referred teeth. A query of electronic health records for referrals made between 2017 and 2019 was conducted. A random sample of 300 referrals were selected and assigned to study investigators. Inclusion criteria necessitated that referred patients attend at least one consultation visit in the PG Endodontic clinic and that patient records were available for evaluation. Data collection was completed using RedCap and included tooth type, endodontic diagnosis, reason for referral, number of consultation and treatment visits, and specified if the referral was made pre-, peri-, or post-operatively. Cases considered “Outside the scope of Predoctoral Students” were classified in accordance with the predoctoral endodontic curriculum: complex root canal morphology, required endodontics access through a crown, second molars, necessitated endodontic retreatment. The preliminary results (110 referrals) revealed the most common reason for referral was “Outside the scope of Predoctoral Students” (82,74.5%), retreatment cases represented the majority (48/82). For cases (28) eligible for treatment by predoctoral students at NYUCD: 64.3% were molars; 32.1% had been previously initiated and 21.4% presented with iatrogenic errors. Findings suggest that there may be a need for additional educational opportunities in the predoctoral curriculum about endodontic case difficulty assessment prior to initiating endodontic treatment.