Alakkad Dana, Al-Shiekh Mohammed N, Karkoutly Mawia, Laflouf Mohannad
Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Damascus University, Damascus, Syrian Arab Republic.
BDJ Open. 2025 May 27;11(1):55. doi: 10.1038/s41405-025-00343-7.
This study aimed to evaluate and compare the knowledge, perceptions, attitudes, and clinical experiences of general dental practitioners (GPDs), pediatric dentists (PDs), and other dental specialists (ODSs) regarding minimal invasive dentistry (MID) in Damascus, Syria.
It was an observational, quantitative study utilizing a questionnaire-based online survey. Demographic information data collected included gender, age, specialty, years of practice, number of patients treated per day, and daily working hours. The knowledge assessment evaluated participants' understanding of MID, their awareness of preventive treatment procedures, previous training, and sources of knowledge. Subsequently, attitude toward MID and chemomechanical caries removal (CMCR) questions assessed participants' perspectives on MID principles and their stance on CMCR. In addition, clinical practices explored the participants' application of CMCR in their daily practice. Descriptive statistics were utilized to illustrate the frequency and percentage of categorical variables. A chi-square test was performed to investigate the relationship between specialization, years of experience, and knowledge of the MID and CMCR. p-value below 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
A total of 252 participants were included in the study. According to MID's knowledge level, most respondents agreed on the importance of fluoride for remineralization (90.1%) and using sealants for high caries-risk children (64.7%). Caries risk assessments (CRA) are strongly agreed (90%). A small percentage of dentists reported rarely using the CRA technique. However, approximately one-third of them consistently evaluated patients' dietary habits. Additionally, 30.2% frequently assessed the patient's current fluoride exposure. 67.5% were familiar with the CMCR technique. The chi-square test revealed a significant relationship between knowledge and years of experience, particularly for those with 0-2 years of experience (p = 0.006). However, specialization did not impact knowledge, as indicated by the p = 0.076. Furthermore, the chi-square test showed that years of experience did not significantly affect knowledge of the technique.
This research provides important perspectives on how dental professionals are adopting MID and CMCR. Although practitioners received MID training during their university studies, only a small percentage expressed complete confidence in their abilities, indicating that dental training programs could be enhanced. It was also identified a strong consensus regarding the advantages of fluoride and preventive measures. However, views varied concerning specific diagnostic and treatment techniques, particularly ART and pit and fissure sealants in permanent teeth.
本研究旨在评估和比较叙利亚大马士革的普通牙科医生（GPDs）、儿科牙医（PDs）和其他牙科专家（ODSs）在微创牙科（MID）方面的知识、认知、态度和临床经验。
这是一项采用基于问卷的在线调查的观察性定量研究。收集的人口统计学信息数据包括性别、年龄、专业、从业年限、每日治疗患者数量和每日工作时长。知识评估考察了参与者对MID的理解、对预防性治疗程序的认知、先前培训情况以及知识来源。随后，关于MID和化学机械去龋（CMCR）的态度问题评估了参与者对MID原则的看法以及他们对CMCR的立场。此外，临床实践探讨了参与者在日常实践中CMCR的应用情况。描述性统计用于说明分类变量的频率和百分比。进行卡方检验以研究专业、经验年限与MID和CMCR知识之间的关系。p值低于0.05被认为具有统计学意义。
共有252名参与者纳入本研究。根据MID的知识水平，大多数受访者认同氟化物对再矿化的重要性（90.1%）以及对高龋风险儿童使用窝沟封闭剂（64.7%）。对龋病风险评估（CRA）高度认同（90%）。一小部分牙医报告很少使用CRA技术。然而，约三分之一的人始终评估患者的饮食习惯。此外，30.2%的人经常评估患者当前的氟暴露情况。67.5%的人熟悉CMCR技术。卡方检验显示知识与经验年限之间存在显著关系，特别是对于从业0 - 2年的人（p = 0.006）。然而，如p = 0.076所示，专业并未影响知识水平。此外，卡方检验表明经验年限对该技术的知识掌握情况没有显著影响。
本研究为牙科专业人员如何采用MID和CMCR提供了重要观点。尽管从业者在大学学习期间接受了MID培训，但只有一小部分人对自己的能力表示完全自信，这表明牙科培训项目有待加强。还发现对于氟化物的优势和预防措施存在强烈共识。然而，对于特定的诊断和治疗技术，特别是恒牙的非创伤性修复治疗（ART）和窝沟封闭剂，观点存在差异。
