Endodontic and Restorative Treatment Patterns of Pulpally Involved Immature Permanent Posterior Teeth

Pediatric Endodontic Treatment of Adolescent Patients

This article is intended to familiarize clinicians with several pulp therapy modalities and new materials that are currently available for immature young pulp in the adolescent population. Objectives and considerations for immature young permanent teeth as well as the healing potential of the young pulp tissue after treatment of the inflammatory process are discussed. The article emphasizes that the future holds great possibilities for the regeneration of dental pulp in adolescent patients.

Corrigendum to “Endodontic and Restorative Treatment Patterns of Pulpally Involved Immature Permanent Posterior Teeth”

Collapse

The Vital Pulp Therapy of Permanent Teeth: A Dental Practitioner's Perspective from Saudi Arabia

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of knowledge and attitude of dental practitioners (DPs) toward vital pulp therapy (VPT) of young permanent teeth in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out by taking convenient sample of general DPs and specialist attending Saudi International Dental Conference, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 200 DPs administered a structured, self-administered questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge and attitude toward VPT. The questionnaire comprised four parts: Part I: Characteristics of the study participants; Part II: Items related to indications and diagnosis of VPT; Part III: Questions related to the different VPTs for immature permanent teeth; and Part IV: Dental materials used in VPT and restoration. All the data were entered into the statistical analysis software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY) and analyzed by using descriptive statistics of frequency distribution and percentages for the categorical variables.

RESULTS

A total of 193 (men = 57% [110] and women = 43% [83]) DPs participated in this study with a response rate of 96.5%. Less than half of correct responses were observed with (Item 1) related to the duration of complete closure of root apex (43%) and (Item 14) use of sodium hypochlorite to serve as an excellent diagnostic tool to differentiate irreversible from reversible pulpitis. A high percentage of correct responses were seen with the (Item 9) indirect pulp capping--a procedure performed in a tooth with a deep carious lesion without signs or symptoms of pulp degeneration (75%). All other item responses ranged in between 52% and 72%.

CONCLUSION

DPs showed fair-to-good knowledge and attitude toward VPT of young permanent teeth. In general, there is a need to improve knowledge and attitude of dental professionals about the VPT by attending continuing dental educational programs.

[Effect analysis of ceramic onlay to repair serious dental defects in young permanent molars]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effect of ceramic onlay to repair serious defects in young permanent molars.

METHODS

Sixty patients with defects in young permanent molars were selected. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One group was restored with ceramic onlay, and the other used resin composite to direct filling. Follow-up visit was conducted at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after treatment. Modified USPHS/Ryge criteria were used to evaluate the effect of restoration. The occlusal courses were recorded by the T-Scan Ⅲ system in intercuspal position. Gingival and food impaction were recorded. The effect of the two restorative methods, the recovery of occlusal function, and the gingival and approximal conditions were analyzed.

RESULTS

At 12 months after restoration, the marginal fitness in the onlay group was significantly better than that in the resin group (P<0.05). At 12 and 24 months after restoration, the surface smoothness in the onlay group was significantly better than that in the resin composite group (P<0.05). At each follow-up visit, the resin group had significantly lower per-cen-tage of occlusal force than contralateral molar (P<0.05). The percentage of occlusal force in the onlay group and the con-trala-teral molar showed no statistical difference (P>0.05). The gingival and approximal conditions also demon-strated no stati-stical differences (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The ceramic onlay repair method is better than resin composite filling in marginal fitness, surface smoothness, and recovery of the occlusal function when restoring young permanent molars with serious defects.

United Arab Emirates dentists' perceptions about the management of broken down first permanent molars and their enforced extraction in children: a questionnaire survey

PURPOSE

The broken down first permanent molar (BDFPM) is common in children. Enforced extractions of first permanent molars (EExFPMs) guidelines were published in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2014. We aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of dentists in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of BDFPMs in children in light of the guidelines.

METHODS

A cross-sectional sample of UAE-based dentists treating children completed a self-administered questionnaire covering; knowledge and practice of the principle of EExFPMs; to whom dentists would refer in case of BDFPMs; knowledge of the ideal age for EExFPMs (8-10 years) and finally actual awareness of the EExFPMs guidelines. Chi-square tests (p < 0.05).

RESULTS

A total of 199 questionnaires were completed (total return rate was 66.33%). There was no agreement on how to deal with a scenario of BDFPMs. Over 85% majority believed in saving BDFPMs rather than extracting them but 89% would consult/refer to other specialists. Whilst 51% of the participants had never carried out EExFPMs in children, 69% were aware of the EExFPMs concept and 61% knew the ideal timing of a lower FPM extraction. More than 82% were unaware of the actual UK EExFPMs guidelines. Paediatric dentists would consider EExFPMs more than other groups (p = 0.007).

CONCLUSION

In the UAE dentist sample surveyed, there was a preference for preserving BDFPMs rather than extracting them in children, despite knowing when the ideal time for extraction was. Training background and specialty were influencing factors. There was a lack of awareness of the actual UK 2014 EExFPMs guidelines.