Page 159 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

ASSESSMENT OF KNOWLEDGE ON ROOT CANAL DISINFECTION AMONG NEW DENTAL
OFFICERS IN TERENGGANU
NMRR-20-2535-56288

Nur Aziemah M, Ruzaini MF, Nur Redannia R, Anis Bahirah Y, Nurul Ikmalina M, Nik Norfathiah NMN, Sabrina Julia MJ, Siti
Salwa I

Introduction: Previous surveys for knowledge of root canal disinfection have been
conducted among general dental practitioners and endodontists. However, there is still
lack of evidence regarding this subject among new dental officers (NDOs) within 3 years
of working experience. Objective: To assess the knowledge of root canal disinfection
among NDOs in Terengganu. Materials and methods: This was a web-based study using
a modified version of questionnaire from Dutner et al. 2012, to assess the aforementioned
aim. The questionnaire consists of 12 questions related to root canal disinfection such as
irrigant selection, irrigant concentration, smear layer removal, the use of adjuncts to
irrigation and, was administered to 213 new dental officers in Terengganu. Results: A total
of 213 survey invitations were successfully delivered via a web-based survey platform.
The response rate was 72.8% (completed by 155 participants), made of 44 participants
with one year of work experience, 62 participants with two years of work experience, and
49 participants with three years of work experience. In term of the NDOs experience with
root canal treatment (RCT), nearly 72% of them had completed between 1-5 RCT cases.
Majority of the participants (76.8%) used sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) as a root canal
irrigant while 74.8% removed the smear layer. Furthermore, 27.1% of them reported
using a concentration of NaOCl ranging between 0.5%-1.5%, whereas 20.6% of them used
an adjunct in their practice. Conclusions: i) Most participants used a low concentration of
NaOCl, ii) routinely removed the smear layer during endodontic treatment, and iii) a fifth
of participants used an adjunct to aid in their irrigation technique.

Keyword: New dental officers, Root canal treatment, Root canal irrigants, Smear layer, Adjunct

Dr Nur Aziemah binti Muda
Dr Ruzaini binti Mohd Fauzi
Dr Nur Redannia binti Redzuan
Dr Anis Bahirah binti Haji Yusoff
Dr Nurul Ikmalina Shifa binti Ma’arof
Dr Nik Norfathiah binti Nik Muhammad Nasir
Hulu Terengganu District Oral Health Service
Kuala Terengganu
Terengganu, Malaysia

Dr Siti Salwa binti Idris
Bukit Payong Restorative Specialist Clinic
Kuala Terengganu
Terengganu, Malaysia

Dr Sabrina Julia binti Mohd Jeffry
Oral Health Division
State Health Department of Terengganu
Terengganu, Malaysia

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