Parthasarathy Revathy, Srinivasan Srividhya, Vishwanath Sankar, Karunakaran Janani, Ilango Sangita, Sakthi Nikesh
Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sree Balaji Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, IND.
Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Sri Venkateswara Dental College and Hospital, Chennai, IND.
Cureus. 2024 Nov 30;16(11):e74877. doi: 10.7759/cureus.74877. eCollection 2024 Nov.
Introduction White spot lesions (WSLs) are opacities formed due to decalcification occurring in the enamel's subsurface layer. These lesions are most commonly seen in patients during and after fixed orthodontic treatment due to undisturbed accumulation of plaque. Other factors that can predispose to WSLs are enamel hypomineralization, hypomaturation, hypoplasia, and disruption in the levels of salivary calcium, phosphate, bicarbonate, and fluoride. Though these lesions produce aesthetic mishaps, they go unattended because of the lack of clinical knowledge in interpretation and diagnosis. Aim This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental professionals regarding the management of WSLs. Materials and methods Participants in a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey included undergraduate practitioners, postgraduates, and specialists. Formulated in English, the questionnaire comprised 21 structured questions circulated through online media across India. Results The assessment of knowledge and awareness highlighted participants' understanding of WSL, underscoring fundamental knowledge shared across dental professionals. The attitudes toward WSL treatment showed a similar belief among participants, including undergraduate practitioners and specialists, regarding the necessity of treating WSL. Furthermore, the analysis of practice patterns revealed consistent diagnostic methods among dental professionals, with specialists showing slightly higher adherence to drying techniques for enhanced visibility. Statistical analysis Data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics software, version 23 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with descriptive statistics presented in frequencies, percentages, and means. Comparisons were made across different categories of dental professionals to examine variations in responses and practices. Conclusion Because untreated WSL can progress into cavities, a thorough understanding of the etiology, clinical picture, and early diagnosis is crucial in planning the treatment and managing patients' aesthetic demands and the tooth's function.
引言
白斑病变（WSLs）是由于牙釉质表层下脱钙形成的不透明区域。这些病变在固定正畸治疗期间及之后的患者中最为常见，原因是菌斑的持续堆积。其他易引发白斑病变的因素包括牙釉质矿化不足、成熟不全、发育不全以及唾液中钙、磷、碳酸氢盐和氟含量的紊乱。尽管这些病变会造成美观问题，但由于在解读和诊断方面缺乏临床知识，它们往往被忽视。
目的
本研究旨在确定牙科专业人员在白斑病变管理方面的知识、态度和实践情况。
材料与方法
基于问卷调查的横断面研究参与者包括本科实习医生、研究生和专科医生。问卷用英文编写，包含21个结构化问题，通过在线媒体在印度各地发放。
结果
知识和意识评估突出了参与者对白斑病变的理解，强调了牙科专业人员共有的基础知识。对白斑病变治疗的态度显示，包括本科实习医生和专科医生在内的参与者对治疗白斑病变的必要性有相似的看法。此外，实践模式分析显示牙科专业人员的诊断方法一致，专科医生在采用干燥技术以提高可视性方面的依从性略高。
统计分析
使用IBM SPSS Statistics软件23版（IBM公司，纽约州阿蒙克）进行数据分析，描述性统计以频率、百分比和均值呈现。对不同类别的牙科专业人员进行比较，以检查回答和实践中的差异。
结论
由于未经治疗的白斑病变可能发展为龋齿，全面了解其病因、临床表现和早期诊断对于规划治疗以及满足患者的美观需求和牙齿功能管理至关重要。
