Changes in management preference of deep carious lesions and exposed pulps: questionnaire studies with a 10-year interval among dentists in Lithuania

We aimed to investigate changes in management preferences for deep carious lesions and pulps exposed during carious tissue removal that occurred during the last 10 years and identify associated dentists ’ background factors. The data was collected among dentists registered with the Lithuanian Dental Chamber at two time points using a similar questionnaire. In 2011, 400 randomly selected dentists received a questionnaire by mail, and 153 (38.3%) responded. In 2021, an electronic invitation to an o nline questionnaire was sent to all members of the Lithuanian Dental Chamber, and 213 (8.9%) dentists responded. The questionnaire included the definitions of management options, a radiograph and a clinical picture of a deep carious lesion reaching to the inner fourth of dentine in a mature permanen t tooth, asked management preferences in four different scenarios, as well as participants’ background characteristics, reasons for management, and procedural preferences. Data was analyzed using bivariate and multivariable analyses. Compared to 2011, participants in 2021 had 60% lower odds of pre ferring nonselective versus selective caries removal (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.7) and endodontic treatment versus nonselective and selective caries removal (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.6) in the scenario of asymptomatic and symptomatic (indicating reversible pulpitis at most) deep lesions, respectively. For ex posed pulp, participants in 2021 had lower odds than in 2011 of preferring endodontic treatme...
Source: Caries Research - Category: Dentistry Source Type: research