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. 2025 Jan 16;25(1):80.
doi: 10.1186/s12903-024-05286-3.

Do orthodontists consider endodontic complications in their orthodontic management of teeth with a history of dental trauma? A vignette survey

Kinda Awad  1 , Ammar Al Hourani  1 , Dariusz Kasperek  1 , Fadi Jarad  2 , Sondos Albadri  1
Affiliations

Do orthodontists consider endodontic complications in their orthodontic management of teeth with a history of dental trauma? A vignette survey

Kinda Awad et al. BMC Oral Health. .

Abstract

Background: Dental trauma is a frequent injury seen commonly in young children. There is a link between malocclusion and the incidence of traumatic dental injuries. Orthodontic therapy has been suggested as a preventative measure in correcting unfavourable malocclusions and potentially avoiding traumatic dental injuries. To date, it is poorly understood if the complications reported following traumatic dental injuries are amplified during and following orthodontic treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether orthodontists considered the endodontic implications associated with the orthodontic treatment of teeth with a history of dental trauma.

Method: A mixed methods vignette survey was designed, piloted, and distributed online to UK registered specialist orthodontists. The survey was split into three parts and consisted of three vignette clinical scenarios with open and closed questions.

Results: A total of 76 orthodontists responded from the United Kingdom. Of the participants, 46% (n = 35) of the orthodontists felt they had insufficient training in dental trauma and 42% (n = 32) lacked confidence in the treatment of traumatic injuries. The study participants reported non-standardised pre- treatment examination, limited dental trauma experience and insufficient training. In addition, 32% (n = 24) of clinicians felt that there is a lack of guidance in the orthodontic management of traumatised teeth and pulpal sequelae.

Conclusion: Orthodontists are not following a standardised protocol in their examination of teeth with a history of trauma prior to orthodontic treatment. There is a need within the orthodontic specialty to create a standardised protocol to assess teeth with a history of dental trauma.

Keywords: Endodontics; Orthodontics; Trauma; Vignette.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The research obtained ethical approval from the ethics committee at the University of Liverpool (ID 3002). The data collected for the research was confidential and the identification of the participants was kept always anonymise. Consent to take part in the study and use of the data collected for research purposes was obtained from all participants. Informed consent was gained from participants with the option to opt out at any point in time. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Results showing answers to part two of the questionnaire
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Charts summarising the participant’s responses to vignette one
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Charts summarising the participant’s responses to vignette two
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Summary of the participant’s responses to case three
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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