Advances in understanding endodontic pathosis, aseptic technique, and principles of canal preparation and obturation have led to significantly increased and predictable healing rates for endodontic treatment—95% and higher under ideal conditions.  (Salehrabi R, Rotstein I. J Endod. 2004 Dec;30(12):846-50). However, the treatment must be delivered predictably by the treating practitioner to optimize the healing potential.

The AAE has developed practical tools to help dentists overcome case assessment pitfalls:

• Endodontic Case Difficulty Assessment Article (PDF File, 587KB): Discusses endodontic treatment planning, case assessment, and referral from a specialist’s perspective.
• Reading List (PDF File, 48KB): Comprehensive list of references supporting the topic of case assessment and referral.
• AAE Case Difficulty Assessment Form and Guidelines(PDF File, 411KB): Enables practitioners to assign levels of difficulty to cases by assessing risk factors that may affect treatment outcomes. Assists with referral decision making and record keeping.
• Educator’s Guide to Using the AAE Endodontic Case Difficulty Assessment Form (PDF File, 44KB): Assists educators in teaching predoctoral dental students objective evaluation and decision-making skills in endodontics.
• Forging Effective Alliances for Quality Patient Care (PDF File, 127KB): Discusses the value of effective referral relationships.