Dental Decision-Making in Pediatric Dentistry: A Cross-Sectional Case-Based Questionnaire Among Dentists in Germany

Background and Objectives: The most recent guidelines and recommendations regarding treatments of dental caries in children are shifting towards evidence-based minimal or non-invasive approaches aiming to preserve the vitality of teeth and potentially reduce the need for dental general anesthesia. This study investigated the treatment recommendations of dentists actively practicing pediatric dentistry in Germany regarding different patient cases with caries in primary teeth. Materials and Methods: The questionnaire was distributed on paper or online to pediatric dentists and general dentists practicing pediatric dentistry. Five cases of children with dental treatment needs representing a variety of clinical situations were selected for the questionnaire. Considering four different scenarios regarding pain symptoms (yes/no) and cooperation level (good/low) for each case resulted in 20 questions, where the preferred treatment option could be chosen out of 21 options ranging from observation only to extraction with/without different sedation techniques. The answers were categorized into three categories for each case and scenario according to guidelines, recent scientific evidence, and recommendations (recommended, acceptable, or not recommended/contraindicated). Results: In total, 222 participants responded to the survey (161 female; 72.5%). In 55.2% of the total 4440 answers, the participants chose a “recommended” treatment option, in 16.4% “acceptable”, but in 28.4%, a “not recommended” treatment, which ranged for the five cases between 18.7 and 36.1%. While pain and low cooperation levels led to more invasive and justified treatment choices (only 26.3% “not recommended”), less severe scenarios resulted more often in “not recommended” options (pain with good cooperation: 31.0%; or low cooperation without pain: 32.6%). The dentist’s age, experience, and educational background did not significantly correlate to choosing “not recommended” treatment options. Conclusions: A child's pain and cooperation level greatly impact the treatment decisions made by dentists, with a risk of too-invasive treatment options in low-severity cases. Substantial disparities in treatment recommendations for caries in primary teeth persist among dental practitioners regardless of their age, experience, and educational background.