Ethical aspects concerning endodontic instrument fracture

Aim: The aim of this study was to address several ethical aspects concerning the behavior of endodontists and general dentists regarding endodontic instrument fracture during root canal treatment.
Methods: The responses of a group of professionals (endodontists and general dentists) to a questionnaire were reviewed and analyzed statistically by Fisher’s Exact and chi-square tests at 5% significance level.
Results: Forty-six percent of the interviewees responded that they would try to solve the problem without informing the patient about the accident. Only 28.1% of the participants affirmed that they would let the patient know right at the moment of occurrence.
Conclusions: The outcomes of this survey demonstrate that most professionals are afraid of informing their patient about an accidental endodontic instrument breakage during treatment and might be subject to lawsuits.