Dentists' knowledge and practices towards pulpectomy procedure of primary teeth in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and practices of general dental practitioners [CDP] and pedodontists [PD] towards pulpectomy procedure of primary teeth in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia General dental practitioners and pediatric dentists from different areas in Riyadh were requested to complete questionnaires on demographic data and current procedure in the treatment of pulpectomy A total of 124 questionnaires had been used for collecting the data and 105[85%] were returned. It was found that 71 4% of respondents were general practitioners and 286% were pediatric dentists There were differences in the treatment practices of the general dental practitioners and the pediatric dentists The most commonly used medicament for pulpectomy treatment was Zinc Oxide Eugenol paste [46.7%] followed by Calcium Hydroxide [21%] Hand instrument was the most common method used by the dentist to clean the canal with 96.2% and only 2.9% used rotary instruments. In addition, 23.8% and 22.9% of the dentists used syringe and hand condenser respectively to place the recommended materials. More than half [52.4%] of the sample restore primary teeth with stainless steel crowns after pulpectomy treatment. The results of this study show that some general dental practitioners use materials which are not recommenced for pulpectomy procedure. Zinc Oxide Eugenol is the common medicament used in the pulpectomy procedure and there is need for GDPs to attend ongoing education courses to update themselves on pulpectomy