III. PREVENT FROM CARIES SYMPOSIUM, İstanbul, Türkiye, 13 - 14 Kasım 2020, ss.13
Abstract
Aim: The current study’s aim is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and clinical practices of
Turkish dentists about endodontic treatments in primary teeth.
Materials and Methods: A questionnaire with 13 questions directed to dentists was prepared
through Google Forms. A short text explaining the study and a participation link were sent to
4000 dentists who were members of Turkish Dental Association.
Results: A total of 150 dentists with a mean age of 27.3±4.9. 66.7% female and 33.3% male of
whom participated in the study. When we asked the factor that most affects the treatment
choices in pediatric patients, 39.6% of the dentist stated that the child had difficulties in
behavioral management and 27.5% of them were uncomfortable with parental behavior and
intervention. 33.3% of the dentist who didn’t perform amputation in primary teeth stated that
they didn’t do it any more because they encountered too many complications, and 30.3% stated
that they directed patients to the specialist. While performing primary canal treatment, 52.4%
of dentists gave the answer, "I'm afraid to exceed the working lengt hand damage the permanent
tooth below."
Conclusion: According to the results we obtained from this study, pediatric patients are
considered as a group of difficult to cope with, high probability of complications and a
disruptive patient for dentists who are not pedodontists. Therefore, dentists prefer to extract
rather than treat primary teeth. This problem can be solved by informing dentists about
pedodontic endodontics and behavior management through conferences and seminars.