Dataset Information

Dentists' decision strategies for suspicious occlusal caries lesions in a National Dental PBRN study.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:Case presentations (vignettes) were completed by dentists in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network study "Decision Aids for the Management of Suspicious Occlusal Caries Lesions (SOCLs)". The objective was to determine dentists' decision strategies for SOCLs. METHODS:107 dentists viewed a series of 16 vignettes that represented all combinations of 4 clinical cues: color, luster, lesion roughness, and patient-level caries risk. Each vignette included a patient description and a photograph of a tooth presenting the 4 cues. Dentists were asked to decide the likelihood that a suspected lesion extended into dentin. A lens model analysis was used to examine how dentists use these cues in making their decisions. RESULTS:86% of dentists had a consistent pattern of cue use that defined their decision strategy. On average, 70% of the variance in their decisions was accounted for by their use of the 4 cues. However, there was considerable variability in the individual cues used by each dentist. The percentages of dentists who used the different cues consistently were: luster (58%), color (48%), roughness (36%), and risk (35%). 14% of dentists reliably used only color, 7% used only luster, 4% used only roughness, and 1% used only risk when making SOCL decisions. CONCLUSIONS:The online vignette system suggests that clinical SOCL decision strategies are highly individualized and dentists do not use all cues available to them to make these decisions. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:Prior to this study, there has been little evidence about how dentists use these cues (either individually or in combination) when judging the extent of caries progression. Such knowledge would be valuable when designing interventions to help dentists maximize the likelihood of appropriate treatment decisions.

SUBMITTER: Makhija SK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5803398 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Dentists' decision strategies for suspicious occlusal caries lesions in a National Dental PBRN study.

Makhija Sonia K SK Robinson Michael E ME Bader James D JD Shugars Daniel A DA Litaker Mark S MS Im Hong R HR Rindal D Brad DB Pihlstrom Daniel J DJ Meyerowitz Cyril C Gordan Valeria V VV Buchberg Meredith K MK Gilbert Gregg H GH

Journal of dentistry 20171111

<h4>Objective</h4>Case presentations (vignettes) were completed by dentists in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network study "Decision Aids for the Management of Suspicious Occlusal Caries Lesions (SOCLs)". The objective was to determine dentists' decision strategies for SOCLs.<h4>Methods</h4>107 dentists viewed a series of 16 vignettes that represented all combinations of 4 clinical cues: color, luster, lesion roughness, and patient-level caries risk. Each vignette included a patien ...[more]

PMID: 29138112

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Project description:OBJECTIVES:This study quantified and compared practice patterns of treatment for deep occlusal carious lesions among Japanese dentists, and tested the hypothesis that dentist characteristics are significantly associated with the decision to choose an indirect pulp capping (IPC), a form of selective carious tissue removal that involves leaving a thin layer of demineralized tissue over the pulp, that is then covered with a protective liner. METHODS:This cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire survey of dentists affiliated with the Dental Practice-based Research Network Japan (n?=?297). Dentists were asked to indicate what percentage of time they use three treatment options when treating patients with deep occlusal caries and possible mild pulpitis on a posterior tooth. Response options were "1. Stop before removing all caries and perform an IPC", "2. Remove all caries and proceed with a direct pulp cap", and "3. Remove all caries and proceed with endodontic-related procedures". Percentages of options 1-3 were compared by multiple comparison. Associations between dentist characteristics and a higher percentage of IPC provision (option 1) were analyzed via logistic regression. RESULTS:Responses were obtained from 206 dentists. Median percentages (interquartile ranges) of options 1, 2 and 3 were 30% (10-59%), 10% (0-30%), and 40% (19-80%), respectively. The differences between option 3 and options 1 and 2 were significant (p?<?0.001). In logistic regression analysis, a higher frequency of obtaining evidence from English-language scientific articles was significantly associated with a higher percentage of IPC, with an odds ratio of 2.28 (95%CI: 1.14-4.54). CONCLUSIONS:Endodontic-related procedures remain the most frequent treatment option for deep occlusal caries. Frequent use of evidence-based information in English-language scientific articles was associated with Japanese dentists' preference toward IPC. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE:Japanese dentists would most frequently choose endodontic-related procedures, followed by IPC and direct pulp capping for treatment of patients with deep occlusal caries with possible mild pulpitis on posterior teeth. Significant association was identified between use of evidence-based information in the English-language scientific literature and Japanese dentists' preference for IPC.

Dataset Information

Dentists' decision strategies for suspicious occlusal caries lesions in a National Dental PBRN study.

Publications

Dentists' decision strategies for suspicious occlusal caries lesions in a National Dental PBRN study.

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