Restorative Treatment Decisions of Dentists in Split and Dalmatia County on Approximal and Occlusal Caries: a Pilot Study

Abstract

Svrha istraživanja: Zadatak ovog eksperimentalnog istraživanja bio je odrediti dubinu aproksimalnih i okluzalnih karijesnih lezija kod kojih se stomatolozi na području Splitsko-dalmatinske županije odlučuju za restaurativni tretman te vrste preparacija i materijale koje za to odabiru. Materijali i metoda: Upitnik koji su sastavili Espelid i suradnici (2001.) preveden je s engleskoga jezika na hrvatski i podijeljen slučajno odabranom uzorku (n=100) stomatologa u Splitsko-dalmatinskoj županiji. Ispunilo ga je njih 28. Na slikama u upitniku bili su prikazani različiti klinički i radiološki stadiji aproksimalnih, okluzalnih i upitnih karijesnih lezija. Rezultati: Većina stomatologa odlučila se za restaurativni tretman aproksimalnih karijesnih lezija koje su dosegnule caklinsko-dentinsko spojište (39%) ili vanjsku trećinu dentina (39%). Za aproksimalnu karijesnu leziju 61 posto stomatologa odabrao je tunelsku preparaciju. Otvaranje okluzalne karijesne lezije u dentinu bio je izbor njih 75 posto. Većina (46%) odgovorila je da zub A ima karijesnu leziju u caklini, a 39 posto smatralo je da zub B nema karijesnu leziju. Zaključak: Stomatolozi Splitsko-dalmatinske županije odlučuju se za restaurativni tretman u trenutku kada karijesna lezija dosegne caklinsko-dentinsko spojište ili vanjsku trećinu dentina, ali su potrebna daljnja istraživanja na većem broju ispitanika.Objective of work: The aim of this pilot study was to identify treatment thresholds, restorative methods and materials for approximal and occlusal caries lesions used by dentists in Split and Dalmatia County. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire of Espelid et al. (2001) was translated from English to Croatian and distributed to a random sample (n=100) of dentists in Split and Dalmatia County. Responses were collected from 28 dentists. Figures, included as an addition to questions, illustrated different clinical and radiographic stages of approximal, occlusal and questionable carious lesions. Results: The majority of dentists would perform restorative treatment for an approximal carious lesion which reached dentin-enamel junction (39%) or would not restore the lesion until it penetrated dentin (39%). The preferred cavity design was the tunnel preparation technique chosen by 61% of dentists. The majority of dentists (75%) stated that they would intervene restoratively for occlusal carious lesions in dentin. The majority (46%) of the dentists judged tooth A like having a carious lesion confined to the enamel while tooth B was judged “sound” by 39% of the respondents. Conclusions: Dentists in this pilot study tend to restore carious lesions at the moment the lesions reached dentin-enamel junction or just penetrated dentin, but further studies are necessary to conclude about the restorative decisions of dentists in Split and Dalmatia County