ABSTRACT
TRENDS IN ENDODONTIC PROTOCOLS AMONGST DENTISTS IN LAHORE
Objectives: To determine the trends in endodontic protocols amongst practicing dentists in teaching institutions and private clinics in Lahore.
Materials and Methods:
A cross sectional survey was conducted amongst dentists working in the teaching institutions and in the private clinics of Lahore. A pre-piloted questionnaire survey adopted from Kohli et al with slight modifications was used.
In this descriptive study 270 practicing dentists were selected using consecutive sampling with a 5% level of significance and margin of error
Results
The 270 respondents had a mean age of 28.16 6.18 participated in this study among which 111 (41.1%) were males and 159(58.9%) were females with the mean age of 30.28 7.416 and 26.68 4.62 respectively. 33(12.2%) were consultants, 175(64.8%) were general dentists whereas 62(23%) were postgraduate residents.
In our study population, 76(28.1%) dentists were using magnification among which 67(88.2%) were using loupes and 9(11.8%) were using microscope. The prevalence of the rubber dam usage for isolation among our respondents was 110(40.7%) only, 201(74.4%) dentists reported for routine removal of smear layer.
Manual canal preparation technique was the most commonly used method practiced by 149(55.2%) dentists. 136(50.4%) dentists were using beveled needles for irrigation, whereas only 71(26.3%) were using side venting irrigation needles. Majority of the dentists (45.2%) were not using any method to increase the efficacy of the irrigants.
Conclusion: There are deficiencies in the endodontic protocols followed by majority of the dentists in Lahore and these short comings should be addressed by governing bodies.
Keywords: Root canal therapy, Endodontic, Practice Patterns, Dentists
Key words: Keywords: Root canal therapy, Endodontic, Practice Patterns, Dentists
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