2001년 카타르 도하에서 열린 세계무역기구(WTO)의 각료회의 결과 2005년까지 보건의료 서비스분야의 시장개방 논의를 마쳐야 한다. 이에 국내 의료계는 의료공동대책위원회를 구성하여 대응방안을 모색하고 있으며, 치협도 특별위원회를 구성하여 국민 구강보건에 최선의 방향을 찾기 위해 노력을 하고 있다. 그런 노력의 일환으로 치협은 치과의사들이 현 의료시장 개방이라는 명제 앞에서, 얼마나 처해진 상황을 잘 파악하고 있으며 무엇을 원하는 가를 알기 위해 회원들의 의견을 물었다. 이번 호와 다음 호에서는 치협이 지난 4월에 회원 및 치대생 등에게 설문 조사한 결과를 중심으로 모아진 회원들의 견해를 중심으로 구강보건정책연구회에서 발표한 자료를 게재한다.

This study was aimed to help diagnose the vertical root fractures in endodontically and in nonendodontically treated teeth. This was a study about mine teeth with a vertical root fractures. Four cases were nonendodontically treated teeth and five cases were endodontically treated teeth. A collection of information including past dental history, periodontal probing, and X-ray was gathered on each case. One of the endodontic cases had no periodontal pocket depth and was in acute pain. It was confusing to find whether causes were because of endodontic failure or vertical root fractures. Most of the vertical root fractures were found in patients aged between 50 and 60. Vertical root fractures were found in the molar and premolar of maxillary and mandibular teeth. The second molars repecially, which had C shaped roots had vertical root fractures with apical propagation type. The apical propagation type means that vertical root fracture initiates in root apex and propagate to coronal root. The teeth with vertical root fractures of the apical propagation type, which was in acute pain, were very difficult in differential diagnosis of periodontal lesion and endodontic failure. Therefore, the dental history was very important to make a differential diagnosis. Past pain history repeated uncomfortable symptoms in bite was a key of differential diagnosis.