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A contemporary knowledge of root canal treatment (RCT) is a prerequisite for a successful outcome. Studies observed that General Dental Practitioners (GDPs) were not abreast of current endodontic knowledge due to a lack of continuing dental education, not following the treatment protocols that they had learned in their undergraduate program, and overlooking the evidence-based current endodontic practices. Therefore, this study was intended to assess the awareness, attitude, and clinical endodontic practices among General Dental Practitioners in Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among all 312 GDPs working in Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire consisted of socio-demographic details and 23 questions regarding current endodontic practices. The collected data was analyzed using the SPSS Version 21 (Chicago, IL, USA). The chi-square test was applied to explore the influence of gender, workplace, and the years of professional activity on the materials and techniques employed in the RCT procedure. The study results showed that of all respondents, 159 (51.0%) were males, 153 (49.0%) were females, and 286 (91.7%) were Saudi nationals. Most of the GDPs, i.e., 204 (65.4%) practiced in private hospitals or clinics whereas 108 (34.6%) practiced in Government hospitals. Root canal treatment on all teeth had been performed by 196 (62%) of the practitioners. Association of gender with demographic details and endodontic practices revealed a statistically significant difference between both genders with respect to region, nationality, type of RCT treated on the tooth, and the technique used to measure the working length (p < 0.05). Furthermore, years of professional experience and workplace significantly affect endodontic practices (p < 0.05). This study concluded that most of the general dental practitioners complied with quality standard guidelines showing a positive attitude toward endodontic practices. Furthermore, irrespective of gender, most of the steps in endodontic procedures revealed a significant association with years of professional experience and the workplace.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116601 | DOI Listing |
BDJ Open
September 2025
Operative Dentistry & Endodontics, Department of Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Background: Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become increasingly integrated into dental diagnostics, particularly for detecting carious lesions. While AI offers benefits such as improved accuracy and efficiency, its use raises important ethical concerns, including transparency, patient privacy, autonomy, diversity and accountability. This scoping review aims to identify these ethical concerns using a structured ethical framework.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOdontology
September 2025
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
This study aimed to investigate the age-related alterations in mesial roots of mandibular first molar in terms of root canal curvature values, dentin thickness, interorifice distance, deviation from apical foramen, and location of apical foramen using a three-dimensional curvature measurement method and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). Forty-five mesial roots of mandibular first molars from three age groups (Group 1: ≤ 30 years, Group 2: 31-59 years, Group 3: ≥ 60 years) were scanned using micro-CT. The central axis of each mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canal was analyzed using cubic B-spline curves to calculate canal curvature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt Endod J
September 2025
Department of Endodontics, Advanced Educational Program in Endodontics, Health Information and Business Systems (HIBS), School of Dentistry, UAB|the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Introduction: Accurate diagnosis of pulpal health is crucial to identify the most effective therapeutic approach. However, differentiating pulpal conditions, which may require different treatment approaches, remains a challenge. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating the protein levels of 17 inflammatory biomarkers simultaneously in the dental pulp with different clinical diagnoses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Dent Educ
September 2025
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China.
Background: Virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have advanced significantly over the past few decades, expanding into various fields, including dental education.
Purpose: To comprehensively review the application of VR and AI technologies in dentistry training, focusing on their impact on cognitive load management and skill enhancement. This study systematically summarizes the existing literature by means of a scoping review to explore the effects of the application of these technologies and to explore future directions.
J Dent
September 2025
Department of Endodontics, Recep Tayyip Erdogan University, Turkey. Electronic address:
Objectives: To assess patterns across 21 countries in dentists' thresholds for initiating operative treatment of active non-cavitated carious lesions and to evaluate the influence of caries risk, clinician characteristics, and geographic variation on decision-making in accordance with current guidelines.
Methods: A cross-sectional, vignette-style web-based survey was conducted between June and October 2023 across 21 countries. A standardized questionnaire, comprising theoretical radiographic scenarios of occlusal and approximal active non-cavitated carious lesions at four progressive stages (E1,E2,EDJ,D1), was distributed to general dentists and specialists.