Does professional experience save teeth? A survey among prosthodontists.

Area of Science:

• Dental Prosthodontics
• Clinical Decision-Making
• Dental Education

Background:

• Clinical decision-making in prosthodontics is influenced by various factors.
• Understanding the impact of experience and education is crucial for improving dental practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how clinical experience and educational background affect dentists' decision-making in prosthodontic cases.
• To analyze treatment planning variations based on professional background.

Main Methods:

• A questionnaire survey was conducted among 66 prosthodontists, divided into general clinicians and specialized postgraduate students.
• Participants were presented with two complex prosthodontic case scenarios with varying treatment options.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in treatment planning were observed between the groups.
• Dentists with ≤20 years of experience favored implant-based treatments, whereas those with >20 years preferred conventional, implant-free options.
• Greater variation in treatment suggestions was noted in less specialized groups.

Conclusions:

• Clinical experience and educational background significantly influence dentists' decision-making and treatment planning in prosthodontics.
• Experienced clinicians (>20 years) showed a preference for conservative, implant-free approaches, including saving questionable teeth.
• Interindividual variations in treatment planning may be reduced by incorporating more external evidence.