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Current trends in endodontic irrigation amongst general dental practitioners and dental schools within the United Kingdom and Ireland: a cross-sectional survey

British Dental Journal (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Aims To investigate current trends in endodontic irrigation amongst general dental practitioners (GDPs) and dental schools within UK and Ireland. Secondly, to evaluate if significant differences exist between the irrigant practices of National Health Service (NHS) and private GDPs.

Methodology In 2019, an online questionnaire was distributed to the 18 dental schools within the UK and Ireland and 8,568 GDPs. These surveys explored current trends in teaching and usage of endodontic irrigants. Chi-squared tests were performed to make comparisons between NHS and private GDPs (α <0.01).

Results All 18 dental schools (100%) and 495 GDPs (6%) returned valid questionnaires. Three hundred and thirty (66.7%) practitioners were NHS and 165 (33.3%) were private. There was strong consensus on irrigation teaching amongst dental schools. These results aligned with GDP responses in terms of irrigant selection (sodium hypochlorite [NaOCl]); NaOCl concentration (≤3%); ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) contact time (>0-5 minutes); final rinse protocols (penultimate EDTA rinse); irrigant temperature (room); and agitation techniques (manual dynamic activation; >0-60 seconds). There was, however, considerable variation in NaOCl contact time and GDPs infrequently used chelating agents or agitation techniques. Compared with private practitioners, NHS GDPs used significantly lower NaOCl contact times and concentrations, less EDTA and activation techniques, and more chlorhexidine (P <0.01).

Conclusions Overall, irrigation teaching within the UK and Ireland is consistent and evidence-based. Furthermore, trends in irrigant usage amongst UK GDPs are now more aligned with these teaching practices. Significant differences were, however, observed between NHS and private practitioners.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are extremely grateful to their colleagues who took time from their busy schedules to complete these questionnaires.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinical Lecturer & Speciality Registrar in Restorative Dentistry, PhD Student, University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, UK; Part-Time General Dental Practitioner, Abbey House Dental Practice, 9 Abbey Street, Stone, ST15 8PA, UK

    Satnam Singh Virdee

  2. Lecturer in Dental Public Health, University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, UK

    Vahid Ravaghi

  3. Reader in Restorative Dentistry, University of Birmingham School of Dentistry, Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, UK

    Josette Camilleri

  4. Professor of Oral Biology, Department of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Paul Cooper

  5. Senior Clinical Lecturer & Consultant in Restorative Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Mill Pool Way, Birmingham, B5 7EG, UK

    Phillip Tomson

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Correspondence to Satnam Singh Virdee.

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Virdee, S., Ravaghi, V., Camilleri, J. et al. Current trends in endodontic irrigation amongst general dental practitioners and dental schools within the United Kingdom and Ireland: a cross-sectional survey. Br Dent J (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-020-1984-x

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