A survey of primary tooth pulp therapy as taught in US dental schools and practiced by diplomates of the American Board Of Pediatric Dentistry.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to repeat a 1997 survey of current pulp therapy practice.


METHODS
The directors of dental school predoctoral pediatric dentistry programs (N=56) and board certified pediatric dentists (N=1200) were surveyed in 2005.


RESULTS
More dental schools (83%) taught indirect pulp therapy (IPT) compared to 1997. Significantly more used glass ionomer for IPT with most dental schools and diplomates not re-entering a tooth after IPT. Over 30% of schools and diplomates do direct pulp cops using glass ionomer. For pulpotomy, diluted formocresol usage decreased in dental schools (54%) while ferric sulfate significantly increased (24%) and full strength remained at 22%. Shorter placement of pulpotomy medication was noted and ZOE alone the preferred base. Pulpectomy was advocated by 85% of 2005 schools and diplomates with ZOE filler use decreasing while iodoform/calcium hydroxide filler use increasing.


CONCLUSIONS
More pediatric dentists are using glass ionomer for IPT and direct pulp capping, and there was a trend away from the use of 1:5 diluted formocresol with more using ferric sulfate for pulpotomy. For pulpectomy, most use ZOE but iodoform pastes and calcium hydroxide have increased in usage since 1997 Disagreements continue concerning when to use certain pulp therapies and some directors and diplomates did not follow the AAPD guidelines.
Dunston
Bryan
B
Pediatric Dental Department, Dental School of the University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Coll
James A
JA
D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002568:Certification; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000379:methods; D004708:Endodontics / Q000193:education*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005566:Formocresols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006847:Hydrocarbons, Iodinated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D019239:Practice Patterns, Dentists'; D011670:Pulpectomy / Q000379:methods; D011672:Pulpotomy / Q000379:methods; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012575:Schools, Dental; D013044:Specialty Boards; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology*; D014481:United States; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005566:Formocresols; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D006847:Hydrocarbons, Iodinated; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; C031025:formocresol; C024823:ferric sulfate; C010473:iodoform; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide