Thresholds of restorative decision in dental caries treatment among dentists from small Brazilian cities.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the thresholds of restorative intervention in dental caries treatment, based upon the lesion depth seen in radiographs, among Brazilian dentists working in small cities. In addition, the threshold of restorative intervention was compared with demographic and work-related characteristics.


METHODS
The studied population comprised dentists (n = 89) who were working in 2000 in 20 small cities of the Midwest region of the Southern Brazilian State of Santa Catarina. Four different radiographs were shown of extracted premolars fixed upon a plaster base. The criteria for the radiograph analyses were proposed by Nuttall et al (1993).


RESULTS
Of investigated dentists, 16.7% would restore a carious lesion confined to the outer half of the enamel and 33.3% would restore a carious lesion in the outer and inner half of the enamel, but without involving the enamel-dentine junction. The percentage that would restore lesions in the outer half of dentine was 91.7%. Dentists who had attended postgraduate courses in areas of interest of this study tended to adopt a more conservative treatment when compared with dentists who had not attended (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a great variation in the thresholds of intervention based upon lesion depth seen in radiographic images amongthe investigated Brazilian dentists. An interventionist attitude was observed, which could result in over-treatment. It is highly recommended to educate general practitioners from the studied region in performing early diagnosis of lesions and non-invasive care in order to treat initial carious lesions with only remineralisation and monitoring.
Traebert
Jefferson
J
Public Health Research Group, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Rua Getúlio Vargas, 2125 Bairro Flor da Serra, Joaçaba-SC, CEP 89600-000, Brazil. jtraebert@unisul.br
Wesolowski
Cláudia Irene
CI
de Lacerda
Josimari Telino
JT
Marcenes
Wagner
W
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003729:Dental Care / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors