title: A survey of root canal treatment in Saudi Arabia: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the methods and practices used in root canal treatment in Saudi Arabia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was developed and distributed in 2010-2011 to a simple random sample of 205 dental practitioners and distributed among private and governmental sectors in 8 different Saudi Arabian cities. The questions were designed to provide understanding of the awareness and knowledge of dentists regarding the new instruments and modern techniques that exist in the practice of endodontics. Completed questionnaires were analyzed in terms of a simple summary statistic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 85.9% of the practitioners responded. The majority of respondents reported using step-back instrumentation as their main root canal preparation technique (79%) and K-type files as intracanal instruments (75%). Overall, 47% of respondents did not use intracanal medications in their practice. Cold lateral compaction was the method of choice for 86% of respondents. Only 3%, however, used magnification devices and only 20% used electronic apex locators. Among those who indicated using rotary nickel titanium files, 80% use a ProFile system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In Saudi Arabia, there are traditional trends in practice that do not appear to be supported by scientific evidence. The results of this survey demonstrate the importance of integrating evidence-based practice concepts into teaching curriculums, continuous education courses, and postgraduate studies. However, further studies are necessary to evaluate this trend.
authors.affiliation: Tufts University School of Dental Medicine, One Kneeland Street, Boston, MA-02111, Fax: 617-636-0911 ; e-mail: zuhair.natto@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Zuhair S
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Natto