Affiliation:
1. Department of Reconstructive Dentistry and Gerodontology University of Bern Bern Switzerland
2. Department of Restorative Preventive and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine University of Bern Bern Switzerland
3. Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry The Ohio State University Columbus Ohio USA
4. Private Practice Bern Switzerland
5. Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry Gazi University Ankara Turkey
6. The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Dentistry Houston Texas USA
7. Houston Center for Biomaterials and Biomimetics Houston Texas USA
8. Ordu Oral and Dental Health Center Ordu Turkey
Abstract
AbstractPurposeTo assess how well torque‐limiting devices (TLDs) are known and used by European dentists, and their adherence to screw tightening protocols and screw loosening occurrence through a survey, including the correlation between the dental specialty‐of‐interest and the recognition, the tightening protocol used, and between the calibration and the occurrence of screw loosening.Materials and methodsA 10‐question survey was distributed to dentists to collect data on their specialty‐of‐interest, TLD usage, knowledge on TLDs, calibration, the term “preload,” tightening speed, tightening protocols used, and occurrence of screw loosening. Pearson test was used for correlation analysis between the specialty‐of‐interest and the recognition‐based questions, the tightening protocol used, and between the calibration and the frequency of screw loosening.ResultsOf 422 respondents, 24% calibrated their TLDs, 27% knew the term “preload,” 76% selected the correct location to read on TLDs, and 6% was aware of the effect of tightening speed. The correlation between the specialty‐of‐interest and the recognition‐based questions was nonsignificant (p < .05) but was significant for used tightening protocol (p < .001). The correlation between the calibration and the occurrence of screw loosening was nonsignificant (p = 0.16). Tightening protocols' effect on screw loosening was similar, which was mostly observed less than once a year (p < .001).ConclusionsA lack in dentists' knowledge was found on calibration, the term preload, and the effect of tightening speed, which were not impacted by the dentists' specialty‐of‐interest, which affected the preferred tightening protocol. The tightening protocol and calibration did not impact the occurrence of screw loosening, which was mostly observed less than once a year.