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Competency, confidence and capability in endodontic treatment

BDJ In Practice volume 36, pages 28–30 (2023)Cite this article

Many dentists find the management of endodontic cases to be more challenging than some other aspects of dentistry - hence my own clinical role, accepting patient referrals from colleagues. When considering whether you are capable of providing root canal treatment, you must also consider your level of competency, alongside the complexity of the case, the validity of the consent process and your confidence in completing the treatment satisfactorily. If these other considerations are overlooked or misjudged, it may give rise to endodontic dento-legal challenges which could have been avoided.

When faced with providing endodontic treatment in practice, I believe that competency is the key point that needs to be established at the outset. And by outset, I mean the moment at which you have made a diagnosis and have formulated a treatment plan. However, the degree of competency to provide endodontic treatment on an incisor will be quite different to that required to treat a second upper molar with curved canals and limited access. But that is why the initial assessment is so important. Indeed, the General Dental Council expects you to only 'deliver treatment and care if you are confident that you have had the necessary training and are competent to do so. If you are not confident to provide treatment, you must refer the patient to an appropriately trained colleague.'2 And so, you cannot consider competency without assessing complexity.

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References

  1. Lewis K. Confidence, Competence and Capability. BDJ in Pract 2023; 36: 26-27.

  2. General Dental Council. Standards for the Dental Team. Principle 7. Available online at: https://standards.gdc-uk.org/pages/principle7/principle7.aspx (accessed January 2023).

  3. NHS England. Complexity assessment Levels of Endodontic care (LEC). The Commissioning Standard for Restorative Dentistry. 2019. Available online at: www.england.nhs.uk/publication/commissioning-standard-for-restorative-dentistry/ (accessed January 2023).

  4. British Endodontic Society. Case Assessment Tool. Available online at: https://britishendodonticsociety.org.uk/professionals/bes_case_assessment_tool.aspx (accessed January 2023).

  5. Legislation.gov.uk. The National Health Service (General Dental Services Contracts) Regulations 2005. Available online at: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/3361/contents/made (accessed January 2023).

  6. Gladwell M. Outliers. The Story of Success. London; Penguin, 2009.

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  1. BDA Indemnity, British Dental Association, London, United Kingdom

    Shreeti Patel

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  1. Shreeti Patel
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Correspondence to Shreeti Patel.

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Patel, S. Competency, confidence and capability in endodontic treatment. BDJ In Pract 36, 28–30 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41404-023-1873-5

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