# Root Canal Therapy in Children: Analysis of Disparities and Value

> **NIH NIH K01** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $168,480

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ ABSTRACT
This research proposal will aim to determine outcomes of root canal therapy performed in permanent teeth in a
pediatric population with a focus on healthcare disparities, value and the impact of clinician decision-making.
This is significant because the most common endodontic procedure, root canal therapy, is performed over 15
million times annually in the US as management for tooth pain and infection. To date, the literature on root
canal therapy outcomes in the US is based primarily on adult populations, even as children also undergo root
canal therapy. Treatment of the permanent dentition in children differs from that of adults due to anatomical
differences and behavioral factors. The most recent information available on endodontic procedure frequency
is from the American Dental Association Survey of Dental Services Rendered, conducted in 2005-2006. The
lack of information about endodontic procedure utilization, the absence of linkages to patient demographics,
and the dearth of robust outcomes analyses for this treatment in a pediatric population highlight the need for
updated, rigorous research in this area.
To address this gap in knowledge and overcome limitations of previous studies, a mixed-methods approach
will be used to evaluate multiple facets of the clinical management of dental pain and infection in children,
specifically, 1) quantitative assessment of treatment and outcomes in a large, population-based sample; and 2)
qualitative appraisal of clinician treatment planning and decision-making.
The specific aims of this career development award are to: 1) evaluate the prevalence and outcomes of root
canal therapy of permanent teeth in a pediatric population and determine the factors associated with initial root
canal therapy survival using administrative claims data from New York and Massachusetts; 2) Explore dental /
emergency room (ER) utilization rates and spending associated with teeth that undergo root canal therapy; and
3) characterize factors affecting clinical decision-making for endodontic treatment of permanent teeth in the
pediatric population through semi-structured clinician interviews. We will evaluate the associations of clinical
characteristics, such as patient age, tooth type, practitioner type, time to restoration and type of restoration,
with outcomes of root canal therapy. We anticipate/expect that disparities will vary by payer type and area-
based poverty level and that clinical characteristics are associated with downstream utilization rates and cost
of care. The qualitative exploration may reveal that 1) clinician’s comfort and expectations with treating the
pediatric population, 2) clinician’s competency performing endodontic treatment, and/or 3) financial incentives
are factors in the clinical decision-making process.
With an integrated training plan that supports the investigative aims, this grant will provide the PI with the
necessary support to become an independent clinician-invest...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10004002
- **Project number:** 5K01DE028591-02
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lorel E Burns
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $168,480
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10004002

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10004002, Root Canal Therapy in Children: Analysis of Disparities and Value (5K01DE028591-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10004002. Licensed CC0.

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