TREATMENT PLAN OF DISCOLORED SINGLE CENTRAL INCISOR. UNDERSTANDING THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS.

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Objective. To compare clinical decision-making of NSU dental school faculty, postgraduate, and undergraduate when presented with a discolored single central incisor scenario and reasons of making their choices. Background. Many clinicians consider the matching of a discolored single central incisor one of the most challenging procedures in restorative dentistry. The patient's aesthetic expectations are normally very high and the final result is heavily dependent on the dental technician. Methods. : A survey with clinical scenario of discolored single central incisor was randomly presented to NSU dental school members. Participants were given four clinical pictures, periapical X-Ray, description of clinical scenario, and were asked to choose and/or suggest treatment-plan and reasons why they based their choices Results. 165 responses were generated (51 faculty, 62 postgraduate and 52 undergraduate). 60.7% faculty reported more than 15 years of clinical experience and 51.6% postgraduate less than 5 years. Eleven treatment-plan options were suggested: Porcelain veneer #8 (26.06%), porcelain crown #8 (21.81%), porcelain veneers #8 and 9 (18.18%), whitening and direct composite (16.36%), porcelain veneers #6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 (9.69%); porcelain crowns #8 and 9 (6.06%), other (1.84%). The two most important factors taken into consideration during the decision-making process were: patient high esthetic expectations (51.5%), conservative dentistry approach (37.5%), other (11%). No statistical difference was found between groups. Conclusion. Treatment recommendations of discolored single tooth demonstrated lack of consistency in regards to treatment-planning. For all groups, the more aggressive treatment plan options were attributed to patient high aesthetic expectations and recommended by less experienced professionals. Grants. None