THE ATTITUDE OF DENTISTS' APPROACHES TOWARDS PREVENTIVE DENTISTRY AND TREATMENT OF DENTAL CARIES

Year 2025, Volume: 27 Issue: 1, 86 - 94, 26.04.2025

Kivanç Dülger , Taner Yücel

https://doi.org/10.24938/kutfd.1631277

Abstract

Objective: It was aimed to determine the changes in dentists' approaches and their knowledge level towards preventive dentistry and treatment of dental caries.
Material and Methods: Two different questionnaires were conducted on different times face to face. While the main survey was carried out in 2010 with 200 dentists practicing in Istanbul, the supporting survey was also applied in 2024 with 414 dentists attending 2024 FDI World Dental Congress. The data were collected and analyzed statistically.
Results: The dentists who participated in 2010 were born between 1951-1960 (29%) and they were working mostly in dental offices (81%) for 20-30 years (30.5%). In the supporting questionnaire, mostly consist of young dentists who were born between 1991-2000 (61.1%) and were working for 0-10 years (72.5%). Most of them were specialists (55.2%) and doctorates (33.8%) working in dentistry faculties (33.8%) or private outpatient clinics (25.4%). In the time interval between the two questionnaires, the benefit, value and necessity of preventive dentistry for the public have decreased from 90% to 60%.
Conclusion: It was found that the scientific nature and effectiveness of preventive dentistry became questionable. Although traditional approaches to questions that determined the level of knowledge decreased, the answers to questions that examined the level of knowledge in detail were not known by the dentists who responded the questionnaire in 2024. It can be concluded that there is no significant change in dentists' knowledge levels and attitudes towards preventive dentistry over a period of approximately 15 years. This result may be correlated to the lack of education of dentists, the rapidly growing number of dental faculties and the further spread of specialization.

Keywords

Preventive dentistry, dentists, questionnaire survey

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Karadeniz Technical University, Faculty of Dentistry, Clinical Researches Ethical Committee (number 64529847/29 and protocol no 2024/25). The study was conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Supporting Institution

None

Project Number

None

Thanks

We want to thank to the participants for attending to surveys in 2010 and in 2024.

Diş Hekimlerinin Koruyucu Diş Hekimliği ve Diş Çürüğünün Tedavisine Yaklaşımları

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, diş hekimlerinin koruyucu diş hekimliği ve diş çürüğü tedavisine yönelik yaklaşımlarındaki değişiklikleri ve bilgi seviyelerini belirlemektir.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: İki farklı zaman diliminde yüz yüze yapılan iki anketle veri toplanmıştır. Ana anket 2010 yılında İstanbul'da çalışan 200 diş hekimi ile yapılırken, destekleyici anket 2024 yılında 2024 FDI Dünya Diş Hekimliği Kongresine katılan 414 diş hekimiyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Veriler toplanıp istatistiksel olarak analiz edilmiştir.
Bulgular: 2010 anketine katılan diş hekimlerinin çoğunluğu 1951-1960 yılları arasında doğmuş (%29), çoğunlukla diş hekimi muayenehanelerinde çalışmakta (%81) ve 20-30 yıllık deneyime sahip (%30,5) olanlardır. Destekleyici anket ise, katılımcılarının büyük çoğunluğu 1991-2000 yılları arasında doğmuş (%61,1) ve 0-10 yıl arasında deneyime sahip (%72,5) genç diş hekimlerinden oluşmaktadır. Katılımcıların çoğu uzman (%55,2) ve doktoralı (%33,8) olup, diş hekimliği fakültelerinde (%33,8) veya özel muayenehanelerde (%25,4) çalışmaktadır. İki anket arasında geçen süre zarfında, toplum için koruyucu diş hekimliğinin faydası, değeri ve gerekliliği %90'dan %60'a düşmüştür.
Sonuç: Koruyucu diş hekimliğinin bilimsel doğası ve etkinliği sorgulanmaya başlanmıştır. Geleneksel bilgi seviyesini belirleyen sorulara verilen cevaplar azalırken, 2024 yılında yapılan ankette daha detaylı bilgi seviyesini sorgulayan sorulara verilen cevaplar çoğu diş hekimi tarafından bilinmemektedir. Yaklaşık 15 yıl içinde diş hekimlerinin bilgi seviyelerinde ve koruyucu diş hekimliğine yönelik tutumlarında önemli bir değişiklik olmadığı sonucuna varılmaktadır. Bu sonucun, diş hekimlerinin eğitim eksiklikleri, hızla artan diş hekimliği fakülte sayısı ve uzmanlaşmanın yaygınlaşması ile ilişkili olabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

Koruyucu diş hekimliği, diş hekimleri, anket araştırması

Project Number

None

References

• Fiorillo L. Oral health: The first step to well-being. Med (Kaunas). 2019;55(10):676.
• Yousaf M, Aslam T, Saeed S, Sarfraz A, Sarfraz Z, Cherrez-Ojeda I. Individual, family, and socioeconomic contributors to dental caries in children from low and middle income countries. Int J Env Res Public Heal. 2022;19(12):7114.
• Lauritano D, Moreo G, Carinci F, Campanella V, Della Vella F, Petruzzi M. Oral health status among migrants from middle- and low-income countries to Europe: A systematic review. Int J Env Res Public Heal. 2021;18(22):12203.
• Kranz A, Rozier R, Preisser J, Stearns S, Weinberger M, Lee J. Preventive services by medical and dental providers and treatment outcomes. J Dent Res. 2014;93(7):633-638.
• Watt R. Strategies and approaches in oral disease prevention and health promotion. Bull World Heal Organ. 2005;83(9):711-718.
• Stillman-Lowe C. Oral health education: What lessons have we learned? Br Dent J. 2008;2:9-13.
• Ayer W. Dental providers and oral health behavior. J Behav Med. 1981;4(3):273-282.
• Tseveenjav B, Vehkalahti M, Murtomaa H. Oral health and its determinants among Mongolian dentists. Acta Odontol Scand. 2004;62(1):1-6.
• Khami M, Virtanen J, Jafarian M, Murtomaa H. Oral health behaviour of Iranian dental school educators. Oral Heal Prev Dent. 2006;4(4):265-271.
• Pınar Erdem A, Peker K, Kuru S, Sepet E. Evaluation of final-year Turkish dental students’ knowledge, attitude, and self-perceived competency towards preventive dentistry. Biomed Res Int. 2019;2019:2346061.
• Arheiam A, Bernabé E. Attitudes and practices regarding preventive dentistry among Libyan dentists. Community Dent Heal. 2015;32(3):174-179.
• Aguilar-Díaz FC, Ponce-Cruz YR, Mortellaro C, et al. Knowledge, practices and perceptions regarding oral health preventive measures among Mexican dental students: A cross-sectional survey study. J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2021;35(2 Suppl. 1):163-171.
• Sarmadi R, Gahnberg L, Gabre P. Clinicians’ preventive strategies for children and adolescents identified as at high risk of developing caries. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2011;21(3):167-174.
• Michalaki M, Sifakaki M, Oulis C, Lygidakis N. Attitudes, knowledge and utilization of fissure sealants among Greek dentists: A national survey. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent. 2010;11(6):287-293.
• McKernan S, Momany E, Sukalski J, Jones M, Damiano P, Kuthy R. Variation in general dentists’ patterns of sealant use in children with elevated caries risk. JDR Clin Trans Res. 2023;8(4):367-373.
• Linden J, Widström E, Sinkkonen J. Children and adolescents´ dental treatment in 2001-2013 in the Finnish public dental service. BMC Oral Heal. 2019;19(1):131.
• Abrar E, Abduljabbar A, Naseem M, Panhwar M, Vohra F, Abduljabbar T. Evaluating the influence of COVID-19 among dental practitioners after lockdown. Inquiry. 2021;58:1-7
• Goriuc A, Sandu D, Tatarciuc M, Luchian I. The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dentistry and dental education: A narrative review. Int J Env Res Public Heal. 2022;19(5):2537.
• Dulger K. The attitude of dentists toward prevention and treatment of dental caries (thesis). İstanbul. Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul University ,2011.
• Ghasemi H, Murtomaa H, Torabzadeh H, Vehkalahti M. Knowledge of and attitudes towards preventive dental care among Iranian dentists. Eur J Dent. 2007;1(4):222- 229.
• Farsi JMA, Farghaly MM, Farsi N. Oral health knowledge, attitude and behaviour among Saudi school students in Jeddah city. J Dent. 2004;32(1):47-53.
• Chestnutt I, Schäfer F, Jacobson A, Stephen K. The influence of toothbrushing frequency and post-brushing rinsing on caries experience in a caries clinical trial. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol. 1998;26(6):406-411.
• Moon H, Paik D, Horowitz AM, Kim J. National survey of Korean dentists' knowledge and opinions: Dental caries etiology and prevention. J Public Heal Dent. 1998;58(1):51-56.
• Sarmadi R, Gabre P, Gahnberg L. Strategies for caries risk assessment in children and adolescents at public dental clinics in a Swedish county. Int J Paediatr Dent. 2009;19(2):135-140.
• Dülger K, Yücel T, Yıldız E. The Attitude of Dentists Toward Prevention and Treatment of Dental Carries In: Necmettin Erbakan Üniversity International Dentistry Congress. Ankara: Türkiye: Türkiye Klinikleri. 2022.136- 147.
• Arheiam A, Masoud I, Bernabé E. Perceived barriers to preventive dental care among Libyan dentists. Libyan J Med. 2014;9(1):24340.
• Ireland R, Palmer N, Bickley S. A survey of general dental practitioners’ postgraduate education activity and demand for extended modular postgraduate programmes. Br Dent J. 1999;187(9):502-506.
• Tredwin C, Eder A, Moles D, Faigenblum M. British Dental Journal based continuing professional development: A survey of participating dentists and their views. Br Dent J. 2005;199:665-669.
• Abbott P, Burgess K, Wang E, Kim K. Analysis of dentists’ participation in continuing professional development courses from 2001-2006. Open Dent Journal. 2010;4:179-184.
• Wagle M, Acharya G, Basnet P, Trovik T. Knowledge about preventive dentistry versus self-reported competence in providing preventive oral healthcare - a study among Nepalese dentists. BMC Oral Health. 2017;17(1):76.
• Yu O, Lam W, Wong A, Duangthip D, Chu C. Nonrestorative management of dental caries. Dent J (Basel). 2021;9(10):121.
• Tseveenjav B. Preventive dentistry in Mongolia. University of Helsinki, Institute of Dentistry; 2004.
• Beauchamp J, Caufield P, Crall J, et al. American Dental Association Council on scientific affairs. Evidence-based clinical recommendations for the use of pit-and-fissure sealants: A report of the American Dental Association Council on scientific affairs. J Am Dent Assoc. 2008;139(3):257-268.
• Primosch R, Barr E. Sealant use and placement techniques among pediatric dentists. J Am Dent Assoc. 2001;132(10):1442-1451.
• Sjostrom O, Holst D, Lind S. Validity of a questionnaire survey: The role of non-response and incorrect answers. Acta Odontol Scand. 1999;57(5):242-246.
• Murdoch-Kinch CA, McLean ME. Minimally invasive dentistry. J Am Dent Assoc. 2003;134(1):87-95.
• Khan A, Hodson N, Altaie A. Polishing systems for modern aesthetic dental materials: A narrative review. Br Dent J. 2024;237(8):607-613.
• Bohaty B, Ye Q, Misra A, Sene F, Spencer P. Posterior composite restoration update: Focus on factors influencing form and function. Clin Cosmet Investig Dent. 2013;5:33-42.
• Opdam N, Loomans B, Roeters F, Bronkhorst E. Five- year clinical performance of posterior resin composite restorations placed by dental students. J Dent. 2004;32(5):379-383.
• Demarco F, Cenci M, Montagner A, et al. Longevity of composite restorations is definitely not only about materials. Dent Mater. 2023;39(1):1-12.