A study led by scientists from King's College London has explored whether the fee status of a UK patient influences clinical decision-making in endodontics. The research has been published on page 541 of this issue.

In a randomised-controlled vignette study using either an NHS-funded or privately-funded or undisclosed fee-status patient, the investigators examined the importance dentists placed on the funding status when deciding to offer patients endodontic treatment, as opposed to extracting the tooth. The research team, including Drs Koula Asimakopoulou, Dave Gilbert and Ian Walker from the Dental Institute at King's College London, were pleased to find that there is no strong evidence to suggest that the fee-status of a patient influences the decision-making in endodontic treatment.

The researchers commented: 'This is only a small scale study using hypothetical scenarios and highly experienced dentists but on the basis of our findings we have no reason to believe that dentists get unduly influenced by the fee-status of their patients before making treatment decisions.'

For more on lead author Dr Asimakopoulou, read her interview in volume 219 issue 3 of the BDJ: http://www.nature.com/bdj/journal/v219/n3/full/sj.bdj.2015.589.html.