Abstract
Background. The apprehensions patients have with regard to endodontic treatment could potentially discourage them from seeking the treatment that they need. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate patient knowledge and expectations regarding root canal treatment, in an effort to administer appropriate treatment and to reduce the levels of patient anxiety and fear that may hinder from attending the necessary dental visits. Material and methods. A questionnaire was electronically distributed in August 2019, the first part containing demographic questions, and the second part, questions on participant's basic knowledge and expectations regarding endodontic treatments. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for the continuous variables, followed by Scheffe contrast test, to identify the significance among pairs of means. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results and disscusion. 152 participants filled in the survey. The sample group is distributed almost equally between males and females. Most of the participants were between 30 and 49 year-old (71.06%). Their overall mean score was 4.19. Concerning their level of education, participants who underwent postgraduate courses achieved significantly higher scores than those with other educational qualifications. Conclusions. Patient's knowledge about endodontic treatment needs to be improved, which may result in reducing the fear and anxiety associated with the dental visit, thereby improving the outcomes and levels of satisfaction.