Key Points
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Provides an overview of the current provision of endodontic services by community and hospital-based dental clinicians in Wales.
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Highlights the differences in protocol and methodology between both dental settings in the provision of endodontic treatment.
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Stresses the requirement for high quality postgraduate endodontic training.
Abstract
Objectives To assess adoption of endodontic nickel-titanium rotary technology (NiTi) by community and hospital dental clinicians within Wales and identify factors that may restrict uptake.
Design Postal questionnaire.
Setting Community and hospital-based dentists in Wales.
Methods Community and hospital-based dentists with a remit for provision of restorative dentistry (community dental setting = 32; hospital dental setting = 36) were approached regarding their usage or otherwise of nickel-titanium rotary instrumentation for endodontic treatments. The postal questionnaire took the form of an anonymous survey comprising 12 questions. These questions covered usage parameters, satisfaction and training and broached reasons for NiTi avoidance.
Results The response rate was 77%. NiTi rotary instruments were used routinely by an encouraging 82% of those in the hospital-based restorative dental services but only 13% of community staff. Factors cited as being implicated in the decision to avoid their use included cost (62% of responses) lack of training and the perceived lack of benefit.
Conclusion The adoption of rotary NiTi endodontic technology by the hospital dental practitioners of Wales is encouraging with the majority having converted to such systems in excess of three years prior to the survey. There was, however, a significant disparity in NiTi usage between community and hospital settings, the implications for which and possible solutions for increased training and uptake are discussed.
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Thomas, M., Locke, M. & Dummer, P. A survey of adoption of endodontic nickel-titanium rotary instrumentation part 2: community and hospital dental practitioners in Wales. Br Dent J 214, E7 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.109
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.109
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