RESEARCH ARTICLE


Endodontic Treatment in Pregnancy: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Dentists and Interns in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia



Khalid Aboalshamat1, *, Somaya Abdulrahman2, Jameelah Alowadi3, Najwa Al-Mutairy4, Mysam Fairak5, Noufah Alraithi6, Amani Alsolami3, Asma Alshahrani7, Wejdan Almansouri7
1 Department of Preventive Dentistry, Dental Public Health Division, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
2 Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
3 Department of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
4 Department of Dentistry, Ibn Sina National college, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
5 Department of Dentistry, Ministry of Health, Arar, Saudi Arabia
6 Department of Dentistry, Ministry of Interior, Taif, Saudi Arabia
7 Department of Dentistry, Alfarabi college, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia


Article Metrics

CrossRef Citations:
4
Total Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 838
Abstract HTML Views: 264
PDF Downloads: 125
Total Views/Downloads: 1227
Unique Statistics:

Full-Text HTML Views: 458
Abstract HTML Views: 186
PDF Downloads: 107
Total Views/Downloads: 751



Creative Commons License
© 2020 Aboalshamat et al.

open-access license: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Public License (CC-BY 4.0), a copy of which is available at: (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode). This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

* Address correspondence to this author at the Dental Public Health Division, Preventive Dentistry Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; Tel: +966125270000;
E-mail: Ktaboalshamat@uqu.edu.sa


Abstract

Aim:

Pregnant women require special consideration in dental treatment due to physiological changes during their pregnancy. The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dentists and dental interns in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, regarding endodontic treatment during pregnancy.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted using validated self-report questionnaires completed by 450 dental interns and dentists who treat pregnant women in governmental and private dental clinics in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire measured participants’ knowledge, beliefs, and actual practices regarding behavioral counseling and the treatment of pregnant patients. Descriptive statistics were generated, and significance was set at 0.05.

Results:

A total of 86.4% of the participants acknowledged the importance of endodontic treatment for pregnant patients and responded that most endodontic procedures are considered safe during the second trimester, including periapical radiographs (67.11%), endodontic treatment (81.11%), local anesthesia with and without epinephrine (70.67%), open access (83.78%), drainage of abscesses (76.89%), prescribing acetaminophen (75.56%), and prescribing antibiotics (61.11%). In addition, 57.8% knew that Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are contraindicated. However, 69.33% considered panoramic radiographs contraindicated. Knowledgeable participants were significantly more likely to practice appropriate endodontic procures. The majority (70.9%) were interested in more education about pregnant patients.

Conclusion:

Dental interns and dentists in Saudi Arabia have fair levels of knowledge about endodontic treatment of pregnant patients, and need to improve their knowledge, especially regarding radiographs and NSAIDs.

Keywords: Endodontic treatment, Pregnant patient, Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Cross-sectional, Dentists.