Dental use and medical expenses for endodontic diseases under the National Health Insurance System in Taiwan from 1998 to 2020

BACKGROUND: /purpose: The development of endodontology or endodontic treatment technology in Taiwan has a history of at least 100 years. This study investigated the dental use and medical expenses for endodontic diseases under the National Health Insurance (NHI) system in Taiwan from 1998 to 2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The population data and medical records of the NHI system were obtained from the websites of Ministry of the Interior and the NHI Administration, respectively. The dental patient data for endodontic diseases were analyzed among all the patients by gender from 1998 to 2020. RESULTS: Under NHI system, the number of patients with endodontic diseases increased from 1,985,413 in 1998 to the highest peak of 2,131,242 in 2004, and then decreased gradually to 1,803,645 in 2020. The total decreased number of patients was 181,768 from 1998 to 2020 with a total decrease rate of 9.16%. The dental use rate for endodontic diseases fluctuated slightly and decreased gradually from 9.09% in 1998 to 7.65% in 2020 with a total decrease rate of 15.88%. The total medical expenses for endodontic diseases fluctuated slightly and increased gradually from 4257.54 million NHI points in 1998–6569.98 million NHI points in 2020 with a total increase rate of 54.31%. All parameters of female patients were higher than those of male patients. CONCLUSION: Endodontic diseases are still the main oral diseases. Therefore, the endodontology in Taiwan should develop not only the treatment technology for endodontic diseases, but also the prevention technology and methods for endodontic diseases.