Improvement in Oral Health–related Quality of Life after Endodontic Treatment: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

IntroductionTo date, evidence of the effectiveness of endodontic treatment and criteria of success have mainly been considered in terms of clinical outcome, and there is a lack of information of treatment outcomes from patients' perspectives. This study aimed to assess changes in quality of life after endodontic treatment and to determine if changes in quality of life were associated with changes in patient-perceived oral health and clinical assessments of success.MethodsThis longitudinal study involved 279 subjects. Patient-reported outcome measures based on oral health–related quality of life was assessed using the short form of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14). The patients completed the assessments before endodontic treatment and 1 month and 6 months after root canal obturation. A global oral health transition assessment was ascertained by a single (global) item rating of oral health improvement and clinical assessment mainly based on the Periapical Index (PAI) of periapical radiographs.ResultsThere were significant changes in OHIP-14 scores over the study period after conventional orthograde endodontic treatment (from pretreatment–6 months postobturation) (P < .001). The magnitude of statistical change (effect size) was moderate (0.61) in the short-term (after 1 month) and large (0.71) in the longer-term (after 6 months). Changes in the OHIP-14 was associated with changes in patient self-rating oral health status (P < .001), which was also associated with changes in PAI scores (P < .05).ConclusionsEndodontic treatment improves quality of life. The OHIP-14 measure is both sensitive and responsive to endodontic treatment and is likely to be useful in understanding patients' perspectives of outcomes from endodontic care.