Vital pulpotomy in the primary dentition: attitudes and practices of Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry practising in the United Kingdom.
OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to examine the attitudes and practices of Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry practising in the United Kingdom in relation to vital pulpotomy in the primary dentition.


METHODS
Data were collected by postal questionnaire.


METHODS
All dentists whose names were entered on the General Dental Council's Specialist List in Paediatric Dentistry, and who were resident and practising in the United Kingdom, were asked to complete a questionnaire consisting of nine questions.


RESULTS
Questionnaires were returned by 184 (86.8%) of the eligible Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry. These yielded a sample group of 179 Specialists practising the primary vital pulpotomy technique. The most commonly used medicament was formocresol, with a 1 : 5 dilution being used by 66.5% of the sample. More than half (54.2%) of the Specialists practising the technique expressed concern regarding their preferred medicament. Without exception, their concerns related to the potential adverse effects of formocresol and formaldehyde. Seventy-five respondents (41.9% of the sample) were considering changing their technique. One hundred and thirty-seven Specialists stated that they routinely took preoperative radiographs, while postoperative radiographs were routinely taken by 107 Specialists (76.5% and 59.8% of the sample, respectively). Rubber dam isolation was used by 62.6% of the sample.


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of Specialists are adhering to the UK national clinical guideline for pulp treatment of the primary dentition. However, significant numbers are considering changing their chosen technique. There is a lack of consensus on the use of pre- and postoperative radiographs; specific guidance with respect to their use is required.
Hunter
M L
ML
Dental Health and Biological Sciences, University of Wales College of Medicine Dental School, Cardiff, UK. hunterml@cardiff.ac.uk
Hunter
B
B
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005566:Formocresols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods; D011859:Radiography; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016733:Rubber Dams; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006113:United Kingdom
D005566:Formocresols; D012388:Root Canal Irrigants; D005557:Formaldehyde; C031025:formocresol