Restorative thresholds for primary and permanent molars in children: French dentist decisions

Background Worldwide, numerous surveys have investigated practices and knowledge about caries management in adults, but few are available for children. Aim The present cross-sectional survey aimed to assess the restorative thresholds (RTs) in primary and permanent molars in children used by a population of dentists treating children and practicing in France. Design The study population consisted of French dentists treating children (Fr-DTCs) who were registered in the French Society of Pediatric Dentistry (n = 250). A specific questionnaire was developed. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed. Results Response rate was 80.4% (n = 201). Considering that an appropriate RT is at the stage of a moderate lesion (occlusal: International Caries Detection and Assessment System 4; approximal: lesion involving the external third of dentine), more than 50% of respondents showed a tendency for iatrogenic treatment, except for occlusal carious lesions in primary molars. Inappropriate invasive strategies were more often reported for occlusal lesions in permanent than primary molars. Moreover, for both molar types, these inappropriate RTs were more often chosen for approximal than occlusal lesions. Conclusions The present survey suggested that Fr-DTCs tend to overtreat in terms of caries management in both primary and permanent molars.

Automated summary

The survey showed that dentists treating children in France tend to overtreat in terms of caries management in primary and permanent molars, especially with inappropriate invasive strategies being more commonly chosen for occlusal lesions in permanent molars.