title: Does clinical experience affect occlusal caries diagnosis and sealant recommendation? An in vitro study.
abstract: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of the length of clinical experience on clinician's diagnosing caries and recommending sealants on the occlusal surfaces of permanent/caries free third molars. The third molars involved in this study had been extracted prior to eruption. There were three study groups: dental students, clinicians with five to ten years experience, and clinicians with fifteen to twenty years of practice. Twenty-four percent of the entire sample diagnosed caries. Clinicians with five to ten years of practice diagnosed occlusal caries significantly more than clinicians with fifteen to twenty years of practice, but not significantly differently than senior dental students. Clinicians recommended sealants significantly more than dental students. The most frequent reason for sealant indication was prevention. The results indicate that clinical experience alone does not impart better caries diagnosis and sealant recommendation criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Baratieri
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ritter
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002983:Clinical Competence; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003815:Dentists; D006801:Humans; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000473:pathology; D015588:Observer Variation; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011364:Professional Practice; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013335:Students, Dental; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants