Table 2.
Participants’ responses to questions about caries management and restorative dentistry
| N | % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is your preferred caries classification for application in your dental practice? | G.V. Black’s classification | 234 | 59.1 | |
| ICDAS classification | 55 | 13.9 | ||
| Mount & Hume (Si/Sta) classification | 39 | 9.8 | ||
| American Dental Association (ADA) Caries Classification | 10 | 2.5 | ||
| WHO system classification | 9 | 2.3 | ||
| Classifying according to position (Occlusal, Proximal, and Cervical) | 5 | 1.3 | ||
| Classifying according to severity (Mild, Moderate, Sever) | 2 | 0.5 | ||
| Miller classification | 1 | 0.3 | ||
| Irrelevant answer | 17 | 4.3 | ||
| No answer | 24 | 6.1 | ||
| What tools do you use to detect a carious lesion? | Visual and tactile examination | 180 | 45.5 | |
| Visual-tactile and radiographic examination | 134 | 33.8 | ||
| Caries-Detector dyes | 29 | 7.3 | ||
| Dental excavator | 18 | 4.5 | ||
| Radiographic examination | 15 | 3.8 | ||
| Recent diagnostic tools | 13 | 3.3 | ||
| Irrelevant answer | 7 | 1.8 | ||
| Management of caries lesion depends on its activity | Strongly agree | 109 | 27.5 | |
| Agree | 235 | 59.3 | ||
| Unsure | 21 | 5.3 | ||
| Disagree | 29 | 7.3 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 2 | 0.5 | ||
| A cavity-free patient indicates that he/she is caries-free | Strongly agree | 16 | 4 | |
| Agree | 52 | 13.1 | ||
| Unsure | 69 | 17.4 | ||
| Disagree | 173 | 43.7 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 86 | 21.7 | ||
| The new approach of caries management depends on the ability of dental tissue remineralization | Strongly agree | 113 | 28.5 | |
| Agree | 201 | 50.8 | ||
| Unsure | 63 | 15.9 | ||
| Disagree | 19 | 4.8 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 0 | 0 | ||
| The new concept of caries management is based on the sealing of cavities by altering the ecological niche of cariogenic bacteria | Strongly agree | 88 | 22.2 | |
| Agree | 195 | 49.2 | ||
| Unsure | 91 | 23 | ||
| Disagree | 21 | 5.3 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 1 | 0.3 | ||
| Dentin hardness and color are the most critical features of dentin during cavity preparation | Strongly agree | 79 | 19.9 | |
| Agree | 241 | 60.9 | ||
| Unsure | 45 | 11.4 | ||
| Disagree | 25 | 6.3 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 6 | 1.5 | ||
| Resistance to excavation is a characteristic sign during caries management | Strongly agree | 75 | 18.9 | |
| Agree | 239 | 60.4 | ||
| Unsure | 49 | 12.4 | ||
| Disagree | 27 | 6.8 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 6 | 1.5 | ||
| It is necessary to remove soft dentin from the wall cavity | Strongly agree | 207 | 52.3 | |
| Agree | 138 | 34.8 | ||
| Unsure | 23 | 5.8 | ||
| Disagree | 24 | 6.1 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 4 | 1 | ||
| Complete caries removal to hard dentin is the best treatment option for small to moderate-sized cavities | Strongly agree | 104 | 26.3 | |
| Agree | 161 | 40.7 | ||
| Unsure | 49 | 12.4 | ||
| Disagree | 61 | 15.4 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 21 | 5.3 | ||
| The step-wise caries excavation is the best treatment for a deep lesion | Strongly agree | 55 | 13.9 | |
| Agree | 196 | 49.5 | ||
| Unsure | 71 | 17.9 | ||
| Disagree | 62 | 15.7 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 12 | 3 | ||
| Step-wise caries removal is a type of selective caries removal | Strongly agree | 78 | 19.7 | |
| Agree | 248 | 62.6 | ||
| Unsure | 48 | 12.1 | ||
| Disagree | 17 | 4.3 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 5 | 1.3 | ||
| In case of a cavitated lesion, a minimally invasive approach could be an alternative treatment | Strongly agree | 54 | 13.6 | |
| Agree | 155 | 39.1 | ||
| Unsure | 93 | 23.5 | ||
| Disagree | 77 | 19.4 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 17 | 4.3 | ||
| Caries diagnosis depends on dentin stains and cavitation | Strongly agree | 22 | 5.6 | |
| Agree | 147 | 37.1 | ||
| Unsure | 63 | 15.9 | ||
| Disagree | 122 | 30.8 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 42 | 10.6 | ||
| The risk assessment of the patient influences the management of caries | Strongly agree | 187 | 47.2 | |
| Agree | 181 | 45.7 | ||
| Unsure | 21 | 5.3 | ||
| Disagree | 7 | 1.8 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 0 | 0 | ||
| The history of pain is critical in the caries management | Strongly agree | 163 | 41.2 | |
| Agree | 194 | 49 | ||
| Unsure | 24 | 6.1 | ||
| Disagree | 13 | 3.3 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 2 | 0.5 | ||
| Routine x-rays on every patient are essential for caries detection | Strongly agree | 71 | 17.9 | |
| Agree | 126 | 31.8 | ||
| Unsure | 58 | 14.6 | ||
| Disagree | 114 | 28.8 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 27 | 6.8 | ||
| Periapical radiographs are more effective than Bitewing in caries diagnosis | Strongly agree | 21 | 5.3 | |
| Agree | 41 | 10.4 | ||
| Unsure | 47 | 11.9 | ||
| Disagree | 176 | 44.4 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 111 | 28 | ||
| Pulp testing may not be essential during caries management | Strongly agree | 28 | 7.1 | |
| Agree | 133 | 33.6 | ||
| Unsure | 72 | 18.2 | ||
| Disagree | 132 | 33.3 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 31 | 7.8 | ||
| The explorer probe is necessary for caries diagnosis | Strongly agree | 123 | 31.1 | |
| Agree | 197 | 49.7 | ||
| Unsure | 25 | 6.3 | ||
| Disagree | 40 | 10.1 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 11 | 2.8 | ||
| ICDAS classification is more accurate than Si/Sta classification | Strongly agree | 55 | 13.9 | |
| Agree | 118 | 29.8 | ||
| Unsure | 180 | 45.5 | ||
| Disagree | 35 | 8.8 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 8 | 2 | ||
| Caries care, Caries management, and Caries control all have the same meaning | Strongly agree | 24 | 6.1 | |
| Agree | 80 | 20.2 | ||
| Unsure | 63 | 15.9 | ||
| Disagree | 162 | 40.9 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 67 | 16.9 | ||
| The non-invasive approach is only indicated for patients with a high caries risk | Strongly agree | 13 | 3.3 | |
| Agree | 28 | 7.1 | ||
| Unsure | 80 | 20.2 | ||
| Disagree | 166 | 41.9 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 109 | 27.5 | ||
| The cavity sealing approach is only used on the intact enamel surface | Strongly agree | 46 | 11.6 | |
| Agree | 137 | 34.6 | ||
| Unsure | 125 | 31.6 | ||
| Disagree | 71 | 17.9 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 17 | 4.3 | ||
| Sealing of the cavity could remineralize it | Strongly agree | 50 | 12.6 | |
| Agree | 172 | 43.4 | ||
| Unsure | 93 | 23.5 | ||
| Disagree | 69 | 17.4 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 12 | 3 | ||
| It is necessary to seal inactive root caries | Strongly agree | 47 | 11.9 | |
| Agree | 167 | 42.2 | ||
| Unsure | 126 | 31.8 | ||
| Disagree | 49 | 12.4 | ||
| Strongly disagree | 7 | 1.8 | ||