Attitudes and practices regarding infection control during root canal treatment among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: The aseptic measures regarding infection control during root canal treatment are very important. The aim of this study is to assess the attitudes and practices regarding infection control during root canal treatment among dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods: Four hundred questionnaires were sent electronically using Twitter and WhatsApp. The questionnaire composed of 17 questions. It was composed of four descriptive questions, five attitude-related questions, and eight practice-related questions. The target subjects were endodontists, Saudi Board in Restorative Dentistry (SBRD) specialists, Pedodontists, their specialty residents, general dentists, and interns. All data were subjected to statistical tests, and a value of P Results: The total number of participants was 327 (82%). There was an overall positive attitude (4.05/5) regarding the importance of infection control. Rubber dam isolation with saliva ejector was the most frequently reported method among Endodontic residents 51 (100%) and SBRD residents 24 (100%) (P = 0.022). Most of the respondents who reported not disinfecting the operative field were Endodontic residents 18 (35.3%) (P = 0.021). The majority of those who reported practicing glove changing before obturation were SBRD residents 14 (58.3%) (P = 0.001). The majority of those who reported gutta-percha disinfection before obturation were Endodontists 49 (90.7%) (P = 0.000). Conclusion: This study showed that dental practitioners in Saudi Arabia were adherent in following the infection control measures during the treatment by self-reported attitudes and practices.