Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Orthodontists and Orthodontic Residents Regarding the Management of Impacted Maxillary Canine Teeth
نویسندگان
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
2 Orthodontist, Private Office, Tehran, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4 Dentist, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran & Teaching and Research Assistant at Subtain University of Medical Sciences (TUMS International Branch), Karbala, Iraq
doi
10.32592/ijorth.19.2.1169چکیده
Aim: This research aimed to assess the understanding, attitudes, and clinical practices of orthodontists and orthodontic residents in managing impacted maxillary canine teeth.Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed orthodontists and residents from nine provinces in Iran. A custom-designed questionnaire evaluated their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the treatment of impacted upper canines. Data analysis involved multiple backward linear regression and Pearson's correlation tests. P-value<0.05 was considered as significant.Results: A total of 96 participants(72 orthodontists and 24 residents) completed the questionnaire. The average knowledge score was 6.41 ± 1.94, and the mean attitude score was 15.9 ± 2.7. A significant positive correlation existed between knowledge and attitude scores (P = 0.001). Participants who saw more patients weekly had higher knowledge scores (P = 0.002), while those with more clinical experience had lower knowledge scores (P = 0.002). Attendance in additional periodontology or oral surgery courses significantly influenced attitudes (P = 0.001). Faculty members preferred apically positioned flaps for labially impacted canines, whereas other participants favored closed exposure techniques (P = 0.025). Clinicians with a higher patient load (P = 0.02) and more experience (P = 0.00) were more inclined to extract the lateral incisor and replace it with the impacted canine.Conclusion: Iranian orthodontists and residents demonstrated above-average knowledge and positive attitudes toward managing impacted maxillary canines.