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Title: Opinions and Attitudes of Dental Practitioners towards Intracanal Separation of Endodontic Instruments
Authors: Sahibzadi Moaizza Fatima Gondal, Komal Imran, Syeda Fatima Zahra, Ajmal Yousaf, Faisal Mehmood, Dil Rasheed
Journal: Pakistan Armed Forces Medical Journal (PAFMJ)
Publisher: Army Medical College, Rawalpindi.
Country: Pakistan
Year: 2024
Volume: 74
Issue: 1
Language: English
Keywords: DentistsEndodontic instrumentsDental instrumentsRoot canal preparationEndodonticsRoot canal therapy
Objective: To investigate the opinions and attitudes of dental practitioners towards intracanal separation of endodontic instruments and to create awareness regarding the management of separated instruments
Study Design: Cross-sectional survey
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Operative Dentistry Armed Forces Institute of Dentistry, Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Mar to Apr 2021.
Methodology: An online questionnaire was circulated among 374 dentists of private and public hospitals in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The questionnaire consisted of close-ended questions related to demographic details, dentists' awareness of instrument separation, the frequency of separated instruments, the causes of separation, the management of separated instruments, and the retrieval strategies if used.
Results: Out of 374 study participants, 307(82.1%) of the participants thought that operator-related factors such as improper or overuse of the instrument were considered the most common factors for instrument separation during root canal procedures. 205(54.8%) thought unwinding, defective flutes and shiny areas were the most common factors affecting instrument separation. 241(64.4%) of the instruments are separated during cleaning and shaping. 135(36.1%) K files and 119(31.8%) H files were separated in this survey.
Conclusion: Most dentists of Rawalpindi and Islamabad face the problem of endodontic instrument separation during rootcanal preparation.
To investigate dental practitioners' opinions and attitudes towards intracanal separation of endodontic instruments and to raise awareness regarding the management of separated instruments.
Cross-sectional survey using an online questionnaire distributed among 374 dentists in Rawalpindi and Islamabad in March-April 2021. The questionnaire covered demographic details, awareness of instrument separation, frequency, causes, management, and retrieval strategies.
graph TD
A[Ethical Approval] --> B[Questionnaire Design & Pretesting];
B --> C[Online Questionnaire Distribution];
C --> D[Data Collection n=374];
D --> E[Data Analysis - SPSS];
E --> F[Results: Causes, Instruments, Management];
F --> G[Conclusion: Instrument separation is common];
Instrument separation remains a significant iatrogenic error despite advancements in endodontic techniques. The study highlights the importance of operator skill and knowledge in preventing instrument separation. Most respondents inform patients about separated instruments and attempt retrieval.
82.1% of participants believed operator-related factors (improper use/overuse) were the most common cause of instrument separation. 54.8% identified unwinding, defective flutes, and shiny areas as factors. 64.4% of separations occurred during cleaning and shaping. K files (36.1%) and H files (31.8%) were the most frequently separated.
Endodontic instrument separation is a common problem for dentists in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. K files are the most frequently separated, and the braided technique is commonly used for retrieval.
1. Sample size: 374 dentists participated in the survey. Confirmed in the Results section.
2. Timeframe: The study was conducted from March to April 2021. Confirmed in the Methodology section.
3. Most common cause: 82.1% of participants thought operator-related factors were the most common cause. Confirmed in the Results section.
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