Errors in lateral cephalometric projections in evaluation of the ma= ndibular residual alveolar ridge height

Dent= ist’s opinion toward treatment of pregnant patients

Ra’ed Al-Sadhan, BDS, MS, Diplomat= e ABOMFR , Abdullatif Al-Ma= nee, BDS
Maxillofacial Surgery & Diagnostic Sciences Dept., College of Dentistr= y, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA & King Abdul-Aziz Medical City, Nati= onal Guard, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Dental Journal 2008;20 (1):2= 4-30.

Abstract&nb= sp;

OBJECTIVE: = The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of dentists in Riyadh city a= bout treatment alternatives available for pregnant patients.<= /p>

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among 500 denti= sts practicing in Riyadh city. The questionnaire included data on dentists socio-demographic and practice characteristics in addition to management choices of the pregnant dental patient such as dental treatment practices = and selected therapeutic choices.

RESULTS: Ou= t of the questionnaires distributed, 212 questionnaires were collected (42.5% response rate). Most of the participants were general practitioners, with = less than 5 years clinical experience, who obtained = their degree from local institutes and practiced in the government sectors. Over= half of the participants stated that they would radiograph a pregnant patient w= ho was suffering from pain from a tooth with doubtful diagnosis or would extr= act a non-restorable painful tooth. Two-thirds of the participating dentists wou= ld not replace a missing molar with a fixed partial denture during pregnancy.= The majority of the participants (86%) would give oral hygiene instructions, prescribe a mouthwash and do scaling and/or root planing for a pregnant pa= tient with gingival bleeding and calculus deposits. In respect to antibiotics, t= he majority of the dentists (96%) would prescribe amoxicillin to a pregnant patient. Of the four analgesic agents surveyed, paracetamol was the most popular analgesic agent (96.7%). On the use of local anesthetics, the majo= rity of the dentists (75%) would use lidocaine with= out vasoconstrictor and would not use prilocaine with fel= ypressin vasoconstrictor.

CONCLUSION:= The study showed that there was a lack of knowledge about the clinical managem= ent of the pregnant dental patients among the surveyed dentists regardless of = their socio-demographic and practice characteristics necessitating continuous de= ntal education programs on the dental management of pregnant dental patients.