OBJECTIVETo determine the current radiographic practices of root canal treatment (RCT) undertaken by endodontists, general dentist practitioners (GDPs) and interns, and to analyze the relationship between the usage of periapical films and the quality of RCT.

METHODSThe patients who had received RCT treatment in West China College of Stomatology were investigated at random and were divided into three groups: Endodontists treating group, GDPs treating group and interns treating group according treating physician. The usage status of periapical film were investigated by the well designed questionnaires. The obturation quality of postoperative films were evaluated. Chi-square analysis was used to compare usage rates of periapical films of three groups. Mann-Whitney test was used to determine the relationship between the usage of periapical films and the quality of RCT.

RESULTS571 teeth of 412 patients were investigated. In endodontists treating group, GDPs treating group and interns treating group, the usage rates of preoperative films were 95.3%, 89.5% and 92.1% respectively. The usage rates of working length films were 5.2%, 1.1% and 5.8% respectively. The usage of master point films was 94.8%, 72.1% and 97.4% respectively. The usage of postoperative films was 97.9%, 76.3% and 95.3% respectively. There were statistically significant differences among the working length films, master point films and postoperative films of three groups (P<0.05). The periapical films of adequate quality RCT and inadequate quality RCT were 3.14+/-0.639 and 2.84+/-0.736 respectively. There was statistically significant difference between periapical films of adequate quality RCT and inadequate quality RCT (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONRadiographic practices of endodontists and interns are more standardized than GDPs. Quality RCT is related to radiographic practices. Standard radiographic practices would be benefit to RCT.