Abstract
Objective(s): This questionnaire study aimed to analyze the irrigation knowledge and current trends in irrigation practice during endodontic treatment among general dental practitioners (GDPs) in Malaysia.
Materials and Methods: A three-part self-administered questionnaire with multiple choice questions was distributed to dentists in Malaysia. Questions were segregated based on demographic data, irrigant selection and protocol, and other irrigation practices. Knowledge questions were marked based on a recommended answer by endodontists and the scores were analyzed among different groups with levels of experience using Kruskal-Wallis test.
Results: Out of 172 responses, knowledge scores of groups of practitioners with a different number of years of experience, the mean score of all respondents was 12.92 with a standard deviation of 2.774. For the scores of the groups of practitioners with different years of experience, Kruskal-Wallis test showed p=0.069.Sodium hypochlorite appeared as the most used irrigant. Most respondents routinely practiced smear layer removal using EDTA. Antibacterial capability and tissue dissolution were the main factors in irrigant selection. 65.6% of the GDPs claimed to change their irrigation protocol to suit different pulpal and periapical diagnoses. There was considerable variation regarding the type of irrigants used, irrigation protocol, concentration, volume, time spent for irrigation, irrigation needle usage, and additional adjunct methods used.
Conclusion(s): GDPs are currently following the recommended irrigation practices in terms of irrigant selection but there is scope for improvement in other aspects of irrigation practice. p>0.05 so years of experience is not a predictor for level of knowledge of irrigation protocol.