Evaluation of Yazd General Dentists’ Knowledge about Vital Pulp Therapy in Immature Permanent Teeth in 2022

Fatemeh Ayatollahi; Alireza Abbasi; Faezeh Fotuhi Ardakani; Elahe Khodarahmi

doi:10.18502/ssu.v32i2.15384

Fatemeh Ayatollahi Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
Alireza Abbasi General Dental Practitioner, Shiraz, Iran.
Faezeh Fotuhi Ardakani Pediatric Dentistry, Yazd, Iran.
Elahe Khodarahmi Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ssu.v32i2.15384

Keywords: Endodontics, General dentists, Vital pulp therapy, Young permanent teeth.

Abstract

Introduction: Vital pulp therapy includes is differnt methods that are used to preserve pulp vitality and root development in immature permanent teeth with thin dentin wall and open apical foramen which have been damaged or inflamed due to dental caries, trauma, or during the restoration. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge of Yazd general dentists toward Vital pulp therapy in immature permanent teeth in 2022.

Methods: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, a valid and reliable questionnaire, including demographic information and 15 questions related to the knowledge of vital pulp therapy was distributed among 150 general dentists in Yazd City, Iran. Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software, T-test and ANOVA.

Results: The participants in this study, included 55.3% men and 44.7% women with an average age of 34.25 (±7.32) years old and an average years of job experience of 8.32 (±7.04). Among them, 35.3% had participated in dentistry retraining courses. The average knowledge score of the participants in this study was 9.2 out of 15. The average score in different groups did not show any significant difference in terms of age, sex, job experience, work place and participation in retraining courses. (P-value >0.05)

Conclusion: Yazd general dentists had intermediate level of knowledge about the vital pulp therapy of immature permanent teeth. It seems that the need for retraining courses to improve the level of knowledge about vital pulp therapy to help choosing the best treatment plan for young permanent teeth is evident.