Knowledge and Attitude Among the Saudi Dentists Towards Coronectomy of Impacted Mandibular Third Molars

• Published in: Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dentistry cosmetic and investigational dentistry, 2022-01, Vol.14, p.113-121
• Main Authors: Raqe Alqhtani, Nasser, Mohammed AlThobaiti, Sarah, Khalid AlOwais, Hayat, Abdulrhman Alabdulkarim, Muneera, Abdullah Aldossary, Reef, Tabassum, Nafeesa, AlOtaibi, Mohammed, Almeslet, Asma
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: attitude; Comparative analysis; complicated exodontia; coronectomy; Dentists; impacted teeth; Impaction; inferior alveolar nerve damage; knowledge; Learning strategies; Original Research; Teeth; third molars
• ISSN: 1179-1357; 1179-1357
• DOI: 10.2147/CCIDE.S356754

Compared to the complete extraction of impacted third molars that are in close proximity to the mandibular canal, the coronectomy procedure is used as an alternative, owing to its minimal risk of damaging the Inferior alveolar nerve. Despite clear coronectomy concepts mentioned in the literature, the procedure is debatable. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude towards the coronectomy procedure among dentists in Saudi Arabia. The 16 close-ended questionnaire was distributed electronically to 377 dentists over the country. It included the demographic data and the options given to their patients with complicated impacted third molars, and the number of coronectomy they have performed. The retrieved data were exported and transferred to the SPSS software program for analysis. The Chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests were used as appropriate for comparisons. A P-value 0.05) between the groups. About 68.9% of the participants agreed that coronectomy aims to protect inferior alveolar nerve damage. More than 60% of participants believed that coronectomy is a reliable technique, while 40.6% of participants claimed that they were capable of deciding whether to do coronectomy or extraction. No significant differences were found between the groups concerning most of the study variables (P> 0.05). Knowledge of Saudi dentists towards coronectomy is good, while their attitude is still low. More learning strategies about coronectomy should be implemented.