Background
The purpose of this study was to identify differences in usage trends for 2 specific
pulpal therapy treatments in pediatric patients during an 11-year period from January
1, 2010, through December 31, 2020.
Methods
Insurance data claims for children aged 2 through 12 years undergoing a pulpotomy
or a pulpectomy performed by a general dentist (GD) or pediatric dentist (PD) from
2010 through 2020 were extracted from a dental data warehouse. The state where the
provider was located was included in the extracted claim.
Results
Rates of undergoing a pulpotomy or pulpectomy declined from 2010 through 2020 (odds
ratio [OR], 0.978 or 0.946, respectively; P < .001). PDs were more likely to perform pulpotomies than GDs (OR, 1.393; P < .001), but PDs were less likely to perform pulpectomies than GDs (OR, 0.225; P < .001). Younger patient age was a significant predictor for undergoing pulpotomy
treatment for both GDs and PDs (ORs, 0.850 and 0.892, respectively; P < .001). With increasing patient age, PDs had increased odds of performing a pulpectomy
(OR, 1.030; P < .001) and GDs had decreased odds of performing a pulpectomy (OR, 0.995; P = .04). When examining effects according to American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
national membership districts, the trends remained consistent with those above.
Conclusions
The percentage of children undergoing pulpotomy and pulpectomy therapy declined from
2010 through 2020 among both GDs and PDs.
Practical Implications
These changes in pulpal therapy practice might indicate a teaching change in pulpal
therapy guidelines, suggesting that less invasive pulpal therapy can be used rather
than pulpotomies or pulpectomies.
