Vital Pulp Therapies in Clinical Practice: Findings from a Survey with Dentist in Southern Brazil

Abstract

Studies based on dentists' clinical practice possess vital relevance to understand factors leading the clinicians to choose by a specific technique over another. This study investigated which clinical conduct therapies are adopted by dentists in front of deep caries. Was evaluated how the place of work, post-graduate training and years since complete graduation influenced their decisions. A cross-sectional study was performed using a self-applied questionnaire with dentists (n=276) in Southern Brazil. Information regarding post-graduation training (specialization, master's or PhD), clinical experience (years since completing graduation) and place of work were investigated. The information regarding pulp vital therapies (materials for direct pulp capping; techniques for caries removal in deep cavities and strategies for indirect pulp capping) were collected by specific questions. Data were submitted to descriptive analysis and Exact Fischer Test. Response rate was 68% (187). The majority of dentists selected the calcium hydroxide (CH) as first material for direct (86.3%) and indirect (80.3%) pulp protection. Partial caries removal was reported by 61.9% of dentists. Less experienced clinical dentists choose partial caries removal more frequently (p=0.009), if compared with dentists graduated 10 years and up ago. The use of MTA was more common among professionals working at academic environment. Besides, MTA was not mentioned by professionals working exclusively in the public health service (p=0.003). In conclusion, the time since graduation influenced the clinical conduct related to caries removal. The choice of liner materials was influenced by dentists' workplace.

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“…Symptomatic irreversible pulpitis and necrotic pulp are the most common clinical diagnostic conditions for patient undergoing root canal treatment; this was in agreement with the findings Khattak et al 18 who reported an occurrence of necrosed pulp (38.31%) was the most common reason for root canal treatment followed by irreversible pulpitis (34.28%), the reason is both are sequel of dental caries which considered the most common cause of pulp damage and requiring root canal treatment 19,20,21 .…”

Venous Blood Derivatives as FBS-Substitutes for Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Systematic Scoping Review

“…Several strategies and approaches to use regenerative therapies in dentistry have been investigated (1)(2)(3), since that materials employed by the clinicians are, basically, synthetic (4)(5)(6) and can present limited ability to induce regeneration (1,3,7). Thus, the use of MSC could improve the regenerative potential of bone, periodontal and dental pulp regenerative approaches.…”

Knowledge and practice of vital pulp therapy in young permanent teeth among general dental practitioners in Kerman, Iran

“…These GDPs could be more updated with the recent literatures. The influence of the time since graduation and place of work on the clinical conduction related to caries removal and choice of materials has also been reported by Chisini et al (2015). VPT, which includes stepwise excavation, indirect pulp capping, direct pulp capping, miniature pulpotomy, partial/Cvek pulpotomy and coronal/complete pulpotomy, has been considered an ultraconservative treatment in modern endodontics ( .…”

“…VPT, which includes stepwise excavation, indirect pulp capping, direct pulp capping, miniature pulpotomy, partial/Cvek pulpotomy and coronal/complete pulpotomy, has been considered an ultraconservative treatment in modern endodontics ( . There has been a discrepancy between general dentists regarding pulp capping material selection in VPT which has been recently reported in Brazilian general dentists (Chisini et al 2015). They have pointed out that none of the dentists who are working exclusively in the public health system choose expensive material, such as mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), as the capping material.…”