Current Endodontic Practices among Romanian Dental Practitioners: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Endodontics
• Public Health

Background:

• Root canal therapy (RCT) in Romania is predominantly provided by general dentists (GDPs) due to accessibility and cost.
• Concerns exist regarding the quality of RCT performed by GDPs, potentially linked to equipment or knowledge gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate contemporary endodontic practices among dentists in Romania.
• To assess the utilization of modern equipment and techniques in root canal therapy.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving a questionnaire distributed to 400 randomly selected Romanian dentists.
• 285 validated responses were analyzed using statistical methods, including chi-square tests, with a significance level of p ≤ 0.05.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in the use of magnification, rubber dam, sodium hypochlorite concentration, and bioceramics were observed (p < 0.001).
• No significant differences were found in working length measurement or rotary instrument motion preferences.
• Approximately 6% of dentists used laser technology, with no significant inter-specialty differences.

Conclusions:

• The majority of Romanian dentists, including GDPs, employ contemporary equipment and techniques in root canal therapy.
• Findings suggest awareness and competence in current endodontic practices among surveyed dental professionals.