Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) in Pediatric Dentistry Residency Programs: A Survey of Program Directors
Date
2013-12-08
Authors
Kateeb, Elham
Warren, John
Damiano, Peter
Kanellis, Michael
Weber-Gasparoni, Karin
Ansley, Tim
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of clinical training on atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) among
pediatric dentistry residency programs and assess program directors’ attitudes toward ART. Methods: All U.S. Pediatric Dentistry residency programs’
directors were asked to complete a web-based survey. Sixty-one of the 76 directors (80 percent) completed the survey, with no significant
response bias. Results: Eighty-nine percent of the responding programs provided clinical instruction on ART. Of these, 30 percent provided ART
training often/very often. ART was used mostly in single-surface cavities (43 percent) and as an interim treatment in primary teeth (57 percent).
Factors associated with ART clinical training included not placing amalgams in primary teeth (P<.03) and having directors with positive attitudes
toward ART (P<.001). Factors associated with directors’ positive attitudes included believing that child’s caries risk (P<.006), professional guidelines
(P<.003), and patient insurance status (P<.04) were all important in selecting restorative treatment. Conclusions: Atraumatic restorative
therapy appears to be underused in pediatric dentistry residency programs in the United States. Residency directors’ attitudes were highly predictive
of the amount of clinical training provided, suggesting that directors need to be better informed about the use of ART.
Description
Keywords
dental atraumatic restorative treatment , pediatric dentistry/education , questionnaires