394 - Vital Pulp Therapy: A Comparative Study Among Dentists

Purpose: Vital pulp therapy (VPT) is critical for preserving primary and immature permanent teeth. This study evaluated the understanding and practices of VPT among pediatric dentists (PD), endodontists (ED), and general dentists (GD) to identify knowledge gaps and improve clinical protocols and patient outcomes.

Methods: A 26-question survey, created in Qualtrics, was emailed to active and student members of AAPD, AGD, and AAE following IRB approval (#100859). It covered demographics, VPT knowledge, clinical practices, perceived effectiveness, confidence, materials, and resources. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher’s Exact or chi-square tests, and t-tests, with P<.05 considered significant. Analyses were conducted in R, version 4.3.0.

Results: Responses came from 215 PD, 56 ED, and 54 GD across five U.S. regions. Most were male (56%), in private practice (64%), with over 16 years’ experience (51%). Over 90% trained in the USA. Many providers probably (36%) or definitely (32%) refer to VPT guidelines. 37% strongly agree VPT is preferred for immature permanent teeth. Confidence in diagnosing VPT suitability was highest among ED (59% extremely confident) versus PD (54% somewhat confident) and GD (60% somewhat confident). MTA was favored by 80% for vital pulp exposures and pulpotomies (68%). Most (68%) said insurance coverage doesn’t influence VPT use. 55% of ED found pulpotomy more successful than IPT.

Conclusion: The survey revealed varied confidence levels among dental providers regarding vital pulp therapy, with a preference for using MTA and performing pulpotomies in vital cases. Despite differences in training and experience, most respondents refer to clinical guidelines.