Unlocking Endocrown Restoration Expertise Among Dentists: Insights from a Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background This study, employing an online questionnaire, aimed to assess and contrast the awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of dentists in Saudi Arabia (SA) regarding endocrowns (EC) as post-endodontic restorations with those of dentists educated in various other countries. Material/Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among dental interns and practicing dentists in government facilities, private dental centers, and dental colleges in SA, including participants of diverse nationalities. We disseminated validated, closed-ended questionnaires through WhatsApp via Google Forms. The Chi-square test was applied to assess associations between categorical variables, with a P-value of ≤0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results The majority of participants (61.2%) indicated that EC restorations are best suited for molar teeth. Furthermore, 69.6% asserted that the primary objective of employing EC is to accomplish minimally invasive preparations while preserving the existing tooth structure. Among the responses, 68.3% pinpointed debonding of ECs as a significant cause of failure. Notably, substantial differences were observed in responses concerning the knowledge or practice of EC across various factors such as gender, educational attainment, country of graduation, and workplace. Conclusions The findings reveal a comparatively low adoption of ECs among the participants, irrespective of experience or country of education. This underscores the need for incorporating ECs into dental curricula through theoretical and clinical discussions or considering them as a subject for post-graduate continuing education programs.

Knowledge and Awareness of Dental Practitioners About the Utilization of Endocrown in Post-endodontic Management

“…The findings of the current survey revealed that the primary means of acquiring information on endocrown was through college, which contradicts the findings of Al Moaleem et al [21]. Their study reported that 45.97% of participants indicated that they obtained information about endocrown from friends, while only 25.04% leaned on college as a source of information.…”

“…This study is also consistent with the findings of Rasidi and Priscilla, who observed that 83.33% of the participants expressed that endocrown restorations are appropriate for molar teeth [23]. Moreover, Al Moaleem et al revealed that 61.23% of the participants expressed that endocrown restorations are appropriate for molar teeth [21]. According to a study conducted by Deepak and Nivedhitha, a majority of the participants, specifically 52.1%, expressed the belief that endocrown restorations are suitable for molar teeth [24].…”

Orthodontic Extrusion as an Aid for Restoring Extensively Destroyed Teeth and Preserving Implant Site Creation: A Case Series

“…This CAD/CAM material shows color stability for such patients, 27 , 28 and it is the most preferred material used by general practitioners in SA. 29 …”

Factors Influencing Dentists\' Choice of Restorative Materials for Single-Tooth Crowns: A Survey Among Saudi Practitioners

“…More recently, the use of CAD/CAM for fabrication of prostheses has gained popularity [ 5 ]. Such prostheses are associated with good adaptation to biological tissues, excellent color stability, and superior physical and chemical endurance [ 6 , 7 ]. CAD/CAM-based zirconia crowns gained preference due to their strong resistance to occlusal forces and wear resemblance similar to natural teeth [ 8 ].…”