Search

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of geographic location of graduation (Israel, Eastern Europe, Latin America) on decision making regarding management of dental caries, periapical lesions, and antibiotic prescribing routines. A questionnaire was given to ninety-eight general practitioners regarding demographic and work habits. Photographs of lesions were shown on a screen. Participants reported recommended treatment and whether they would routinely prescribe antibiotics following regular endodontic treatment, retreatment, and impacted third molar surgical extraction in healthy patients. There was a 94 percent (n=92) response rate, of which eighty-five responses were used in the data analysis. Surgical treatment of asymptomatic enamel caries lesions was not recommended by most of the subjects, and surgery was recommended for DEJ caries lesions in low or moderate caries risk patients, both without significant differences between geographic regions of dental school graduation. Israelis had a lower frequency of retreatment in asymptomatic teeth that demonstrated periapical radiolucency with post restoration (without crown) compared to Latin Americans and East Europeans. Most of the participants would not retreat asymptomatic teeth that demonstrated periapical radiolucency with post and crown. After third molar surgery, 46 percent of participants routinely prescribed antibiotics. Significantly more Latin American graduates prescribed antibiotics following endodontic treatment, retreatment, and third molar extractions (p<0.05). Overmedication (antibiotics) and overtreatment (caries) among young practitioners reflect failure of undergraduate education in proper use of antibiotics and management of the carious lesions according to the patient's clinical presentation and caries risk assessment rather than routinely undertaking surgical caries treatment.

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate decision making among Israeli, Eastern European, and South American dental school graduates in oral surgery issues., Materials and Methods: During a military dental convention, a survey was conducted among 85 dentists that included a questionnaire and a panoramic image presentation., Results: Removal of the mandibular third molar was recommended more often by the Israeli graduates, Eastern European dentists recommended less maxillary antagonist extraction, and South American graduates had the lowest rate of recommendation for extraction of a partially impacted mesioangular and distoangular mandibular third molar in a 19-year-old patient, and of a fully impacted horizontal mandibular third molar in 19- and 35-year-old patients. In all groups, more dentists recommended extraction of disease-free third molars in 35-year-old than in 19-year-old patients., Conclusion: According to study results, decision making regarding third molar treatment is not evidence-based and is not rational. Further postgraduate education in this area is warranted.