Critérios clínicos e radiográficos indicativos na manutenção ou exodontia de elementos dentários

Abstract

Dentists are, daily, challenged with the dilemma of maintaining a tooth with a questionable prognosis or extracting and replacing it for an osseointegrated implant. The aim of this investigation was to show the profile and differences among diagnosis concepts of dentists regarding clinical and radiographic criteria taken into consideration to decide on exodontics or maintenance of dental elements. To reach this objective, an electronic questionnaire, containing periapical radiographs and their respective clinical data, was sent by e-mail to dentists for their interpretation and response regarding maintenance or exodontics of the referred dental elements. Data descriptive analyses, as well as Chisquare, ANOVA and Turkey s statistical tests were applied at a significance level of 5%. From the eight presented cases in the questionnaire, only two of them showed statistically significant difference. It was concluded the criteria used by dentists varied according to their dental specialties, being possible to observe statistically significant difference among the professional s management of different areas of Dentistry. It was observed endodontists were more conservative in every case presented, followed by general clinicians, orthodontists, periodontists and prosthodontists, while implantologists were more radical. This demonstrates a philosophical tendency of each specialty, revealing the need for a multidisciplinary approach for a correct diagnosis and treatment