The teaching of management of the pulp in primary molars across Europe

Abstract

AimTo determine which methods of primary pulp therapy are currently being taught in European dental schools.MethodsAn online survey tool was employed to send questionnaires to paediatric dentistry departments of 202 European dental schools. Email addresses were obtained from the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry and questionnaires were sent to one member of each department in December 2014. The survey included questions on treatment choices and clinical scenarios where respondents indicated how they would advise students to proceed, given a particular case.ResultsFifty-one responses from 22 different countries were obtained. Eleven schools reported that they taught only undergraduate students, 4 only postgraduates and 36 taught both. Forty-three schools taught indirect pulp capping, the most popular material being calcium hydroxide; 26 taught direct pulp capping, mostly using mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA). Teaching of pulpotomy was widespread across Europe, with MTA being the most popular material, taught in 37 schools, followed by ferric sulphate, in 29. Formocresol, however, was still being taught in 12 dental schools. Responses to the clinical scenarios were mostly in accordance with previously selected choices.ConclusionsThis study had a representative sample, showing a wide variation in primary pulp therapies taught in Europe. Comparison with previous studies shows new trends in taught therapies, possibly driven by recent research in primary pulp management and the development of new materials.

Platelet-Rich Plasma and Platelet-Rich Fibrin Can Induce Apical Closure More Frequently Than Blood-Clot Revascularization for the Regeneration of Immature Permanent Teeth: A Meta-Analysis of Clinical Efficacy

“…REPs began around 1952, when a German dentist called: Dr. B. W. Hermann advocated the use of calcium hydroxide as a dressing for after a vital pulp amputation (Hermann, 1952 ). Today, many dentists still use calcium hydroxide, mainly for apexification (Gawthaman et al, 2013 ), although MTA has overtaken calcium hydroxide to become the most popular pulp repair material (Monteiro et al, 2017 ). Subsequent REPs include the development of guided tissue or bone regeneration procedures and distraction osteogenesis (Jani, 1975 ); the application of platelet rich plasma (PRP) for bone augmentation (Kassolis et al, 2000 ); the use of platelet rich fibrin (PRF) for periodontal wound healing (Powell et al, 2009 ); and blood clot revascularization (BCR) by a Norwedgian dentist called Dr. Nygaard-Ostby for the regeneration of tissues within the root canals of pulpotimized teeth (Ostby, 1961 ; Nygaard-Ostby and Hjortdal, 1971 ).…”

The effect of base material composition on demineralization assessment in CPOCT dental imaging

“…It is fortunate that calcium hydroxide is not used as ubiquitously as GI/ RMGI under composite/resin restorations. But calcium hydroxide is still often used as a liner under permanent tooth restorations and is also commonly used as an indirect pulp capping for restorations in primary teeth in children 28) . The general list of possible materials used for base liner materials include the materials studied in this paper: glass ionomers, resin modified glass ionomers, and calcium hydroxide based materials.…”

Difference of Success Rates of Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Pulpotomies Performed Both by Undergraduate Dental Students and by an Expert Operator: A Retrospective Study

“…In a recent study conducted in a survey of 51 paediatric dental schools in 22 different European universities, the most commonly used material is MTA (taught and used in 37 schools), followed by ferric sulfate that is taught in 29 dental schools. In addition, in most dental schools, pulp treatment in deciduous teeth is taught to both undergraduate and postgraduate students [ 13 ].…”