Decisions about the diagnostic and treatment criteria of dental caries among a group of dental students, faculty staff and dentists within the city of Medellin, Colombia.

Andrés Agudelo-Suárez; Cecilia Martínez-Delgado; María Díaz-Garavito; Francisco Moncada-Cardona; Laura López-Trujillo; Melissa Gómez-Correa; María López-Muñoz; Ángela Restrepo-Rodríguez

doi:10.17126/joralres.2021.062

Andrés Agudelo-Suárez Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Antioquia. Medellín, Colombia. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8079-807X
Cecilia Martínez-Delgado Facultad de Odontología. Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia. http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8409-7337
María Díaz-Garavito Facultad de Odontología. Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia. DDS E.S.E METROSALUD, Medellín, Colombia. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4876-7927
Francisco Moncada-Cardona Clinical practice, Medellín, Colombia.
Laura López-Trujillo Clinical practice, Medellín, Colombia.
Melissa Gómez-Correa Clinical practice, Medellín, Colombia.
María López-Muñoz Clinical practice, Medellín, Colombia.
Ángela Restrepo-Rodríguez Clinical practice, Medellín, Colombia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17126/joralres.2021.062

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the criteria for diagnosis and treatment decision-making in relation to dental caries in different participants (teachers of dentistry, dental students at dental schools, and dentists practicing at public oral health services) in the city of Medellin (Colombia). Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was applied in the period September 2015-december 2016 by means of an international validated questionnaire in 340 participants (dental teachers: 69, dental students: 193, dentists: 78). The survey addressed several topics related to detection and restorative threshold, preferences of preparation type, restorative materials used and opinions about diagnosis and treatment for dental caries. A descriptive analysis was carried out and Chi square tests were applied to observe statistically significant differences between the study variables. Results: 340 participants were surveyed among teachers who teach cariology, health care dentists, and undergraduate final-year students. Most participants were women (70%). The age mean was higher for DDSs (46 ± 9 years). On average, practicing dentists and dental teachers had a work experience of 21 ± 9 years. In case of treatment decisions, the majority of the surveyed would use immediate operative restorative treatment for advanced carious lesions (inner one-third of the dentin for approximal and grade 5 for occlusal). In addition, respondents reported different cavities diagnosis for clinical occlusal cases and some significant statistically differences were found for restorative treatment decisions and type of materials according to the type of participant. Conclusion: Criteria for diagnosis and treatment of dental caries differed among the student, dentist and dental teachers with variety in diagnosis and treatment concepts. However, a conservative tendency for restorative treatment decisions was observed. Strategies for incorporating non-restorative and minimal measures in professional practice should be considered in curricula of universities.

Author Biographies

Andrés Agudelo-Suárez, Facultad de Odontología. Universidad de Antioquia. Medellín, Colombia.

Cecilia Martínez-Delgado, Facultad de Odontología. Universidad CES, Medellín, Colombia.

María Díaz-Garavito, Facultad de Odontología. Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Medellín, Colombia. DDS E.S.E METROSALUD, Medellín, Colombia.

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