Knowledge, attitudes and practices of orthodontists regarding orthodontic treatment of traumatized teeth: a systematic review.

Purpose: To assess the global status of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of orthodontists regarding the orthodontic treatment of traumatized teeth.

Methods: An a priori protocol was developed and registered (PROSPERO, CRD42022342038). The literature search based on the Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) elements of the research question was developed and conducted electronically in PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library, up to 31st August 2024. Gray literature and reference searches were also performed. Titles and abstracts were screened, and later, full-text articles were identified. Data extraction and analysis were performed, and the risk of bias was analyzed via the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for cross-sectional analytical studies. The data was synthesized in form of tables and interpretation was performed.

Results: From a total of 1272 articles initially identified, six studies qualified for the final synthesis. The awareness of orthodontic treatment of teeth with root fractures, crown fractures, crown‒root fractures, mild and severe injury to the periodontium, and teeth managed by revascularization and root canal treatment was found to be less than 40% in most of the studies. Awareness regarding the risk of resorption in teeth with external inflammatory root resorption and avoiding forces on teeth with ankylosis was greater than 90%. The risk of bias was found to be low in three studies.

Conclusions: The knowledge of orthodontists regarding most aspects of orthodontic management of traumatized teeth was found to be low or inadequate. There are wide variations in the protocols preferred, which differ from contemporary recommendations and evidence.