Teaching pulpectomy in paediatric dentistry: A national cross-sectional survey of dental schools in Brazil

Background: Pulpectomy is used to treat primary teeth with irreversibly inflamed or necrotic pulp tissue. There is, however, a lack of consensus on clinical protocols for teaching pulpectomy at dental schools. Aim: To determine what faculty members at Brazilian dental schools are teaching about pulpectomy in primary teeth. Design: A cross-sectional, observational study was conducted using a 39-question survey available via the Google Forms (R) platform. A snowball sampling strategy was used for recruitment. Invitations to participate were sent via e-mail, WhatsApp (R) and Instagram (R). The data were analysed descriptively. Results: A total of 177 (58.4%) responses were obtained. Most faculty members recommended the use of Kerr hand files (66.1%), and 1% sodium hypochlorite was the most common choice for the irrigating solution (35.3%). Iodoform pastes were the first choice of faculty members (41.6%), and 60.5% of the faculty members recommended composite resin as the definitive restoration. Conclusion: Similarities were found in the teaching of pulpectomy for primary teeth among faculty members at dental schools in Brazil.