Factors influencing the diagnosis and management of teeth with pulpal and periradicular disease by general dental practitioners. Part 2

Radiographic practices of dentists undertaking endodontics in New Zealand.

“…11 In a recent Scottish study 7.7% used an EAL most of the time but over 80% did not use one at all. 6 In Japan more than 90% use an EAL to determine working length and 77% take radiographs. 12 This very high usage of EAL may represent 60 years of Japanese development, manufacturing and marketing of four generations of these devices.…”

“…In Scotland in 1999 ®lm holders were used by fewer GDPs all the time (21.6%), and it was found that ®lm holders were used more frequently by those who had quali®ed after 1983. 6 Assessment of working length and electronic apex location In the 1980 study of endodontics in New Zealand only 83% considered it necessary to take a radiograph of an instrument in a tooth in order to establish working length. 1 In 2000, 66.7% took this view all the time and only 1.1% did not take this view at all (Table 1).…”

Adoption of new endodontic technology by dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia

“…Similarly, GPs practicing in Saudi Arabia who never used Digital radiography (63.3%) are less than GPs who never used Digital radiography in Europe (95.1%) (Saunders et al, 1999) or New Zealand (89.8%) (Chandler and Koshy, 2002). Furthermore, GPs practicing in Saudi Arabia who never used Electronic Apex Locators (57%) are less than GPs who never used Electronic Apex Locators in Europe (67-80%) (Saunders et al, 1999;Bjorndal and Reit, 2005) and less than the combined GPs and ENs in the United States of America (90%) (Whitten et al, 1996). On the other hand, GPs in New Zealand who never used Electronic Apex Locators (46.6%) (Chandler and Koshy, 2002) are less than GPs practicing in Saudi Arabia who never used Electronic Apex Locators.…”

“…For example, GPs practicing in Saudi Arabia who never used rotary NiTi instruments (61.2%) are less than dentists who never used rotary NiTi instruments in Europe (72-85%) (Hommez et al, 2003;Bjorndal and Reit, 2005) or Australia (78%) (Parashos and Messer, 2004). Similarly, GPs practicing in Saudi Arabia who never used Digital radiography (63.3%) are less than GPs who never used Digital radiography in Europe (95.1%) (Saunders et al, 1999) or New Zealand (89.8%) (Chandler and Koshy, 2002). Furthermore, GPs practicing in Saudi Arabia who never used Electronic Apex Locators (57%) are less than GPs who never used Electronic Apex Locators in Europe (67-80%) (Saunders et al, 1999;Bjorndal and Reit, 2005) and less than the combined GPs and ENs in the United States of America (90%) (Whitten et al, 1996).…”

“…Despite the many advantages offered by new endodontic and dental technology in enhancing the quality and efficiency of root canal treatment, there is a general trend for dentist to be slow in adopting these technologies (Whitten et al, 1996;Saunders et al, 1999;Brunton et al, 2002;Chandler and Koshy, 2002;Hommez et al, 2003;Parashos and Messer, 2004;Bjorndal and Reit, 2005).…”