Pediatric and general dentists' attitudes toward pulp therapy for primary teeth.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this survey was to assess and compare the attitudes of pediatric and general dentists regarding treatment planning of indirect pulp therapy (IPT) in primary teeth.


METHODS
A 15-item electronic survey was sent to 3,883 general dentists and 3,691  pediatric dentists nation-wide to assess their knowledge and attitudes regarding the treatment planning of IPT through the presentation of clinical scenarios.


RESULTS
Of the 7,574 electronic surveys distributed, 1,259 (17%) were completed. When presented with a clinical scenario where  IPT would be an appropriate choice, 41% of general dentists and 28% of pediatric dentists selected IPT as treatment of choice (P<.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Most general and pediatric dentists do not regularly treatment plan indirect pulp therapy for primary teeth. Pediatric dentists are less  likely than general dentists to do so. Most surveyed believe pulpotomy is a more successful vital pulp therapy than IPT. There are significant differences between pediatric and general dentists in terms of treatment planning and materials utilized in vital pulp therapy.
University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
J Lucas
JL
Bowen
Kavita R
KR
Mathu-Muju
David A
DA
Nash
Kenneth B
KB
Chance
Heather M
HM
Bush
Hsin-Fang
HF
Li
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003813:Dentistry; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D011670:Pulpectomy; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000601:surgery*; D000078329:Workforce