Deciphering Pediatric Root Canal Practices in Turkey: A Comparative Study Bridging the Gap between Practice and Literature

BACKGROUND: Pediatric endodontics is a critical area of dental practice, involving the treatment of root canals in primary teeth. Treatment approaches can significantly vary due to a range of factors, potentially impacting the success of the procedure and patient comfort. This variability, often influenced by regional practices, individual dentist preferences, and the pace of dental technology advancements, warrants detailed examination to improve standardization and care outcomes. Accordingly, our study aims to scrutinize the endodontic practices of pedodontists in Turkey and compare them with contemporary literature. MATERIAL/METHODS: We conducted an online survey with 15 questions that 217 Turkish pedodontists answered. The questionnaire sought information about their preferences in canal length measurement, canal sealer, irrigation solution, and other procedural decisions. Chi-square test was used to analyze the responses, with a significance level of p<0.05. RESULTS: The majority of respondents were associated with universities (123 out of 217). 103 preferred rotary file sets, and 114 used apex locators for canal length measurement. Iodoform pastes (160) and sodium hypochlorite (180) were the most popular choices for canal sealers and irrigation solution, respectively. 152 participants did not prefer using rubber dam, and 186 did not favor sonic-ultrasonic activators. Many reported using hand files as students (184), with 39 continuing this practice. Post-graduation, 64 participants took root canal treatment courses, while 72 were reluctant to perform the procedure under general anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: No single method stood out as superior for primary root canal treatments in deciduous teeth. Incorporating advanced technology into dental practice may potentially improve treatment success and patient comfort.