The Vital Pulp Therapy of Permanent Teeth: A Dental Practitioner’s Perspective from Saudi Arabia

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the levels of knowledge and attitude of dental practitioners (DPs) toward vital pulp therapy (VPT) of young permanent teeth in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out by taking convenient sample of general DPs and specialist attending Saudi International Dental Conference, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 200 DPs administered a structured, self-administered questionnaire to evaluate their knowledge and attitude toward VPT. The questionnaire comprised four parts: Part I: Characteristics of the study participants; Part II: Items related to indications and diagnosis of VPT; Part III: Questions related to the different VPTs for immature permanent teeth; and Part IV: Dental materials used in VPT and restoration. All the data were entered into the statistical analysis software Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 21.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY) and analyzed by using descriptive statistics of frequency distribution and percentages for the categorical variables. RESULTS: A total of 193 (men = 57% [110] and women = 43% [83]) DPs participated in this study with a response rate of 96.5%. Less than half of correct responses were observed with (Item 1) related to the duration of complete closure of root apex (43%) and (Item 14) use of sodium hypochlorite to serve as an excellent diagnostic tool to differentiate irreversible from reversible pulpitis. A high percentage of correct responses were seen with the (Item 9) indirect pulp capping––a procedure performed in a tooth with a deep carious lesion without signs or symptoms of pulp degeneration (75%). All other item responses ranged in between 52% and 72%. CONCLUSION: DPs showed fair-to-good knowledge and attitude toward VPT of young permanent teeth. In general, there is a need to improve knowledge and attitude of dental professionals about the VPT by attending continuing dental educational programs.