Endodontic infection control routines among general dental practitioners in Sweden and Norway: a questionnaire survey

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of participating general dental practitioners.

Age	n	%	Graduation year	n	%	Gender	n	%
72–65	31	3.8	<1975	26	3.2	Female	518	63.6
64–55	172	21.3	1976–1985	136	16.7	Male	282	34.6
54–45	116	14.4	1986–1995	113	13.9	Prefer not to say	14	1.7
44–35	193	23.9	1996–2005	147	18.1
34–24	295	36.6	2006<	390	48.0

Table 2. Isolation and disinfection routines during endodontic treatment.

Isolates the tooth with	n	%	Sealing rubber dam	n	%
Nothing	4	0.5	No	83	10.3
Rubber dam	781	96.9	Always	421	51.9
Cotton rolls	18	2.2	Sometimes	294	36.4
Other^a	3	0.4	Do not use rubber dam	11	1.4
Methods used to seal^b	n	%	Disinfection of operative field^b	n	%
Dental floss	259	31.6	30% H2O2	436	53.2
Oraseal	334	40.8	3% H2O2	83	10.1
Liquid rubber dam	226	27.6	0.5% CHX in 70 % alcohol	456	55.7
Other^c	161	19.7	5–10% iodine tincture	320	36.6
Do not seal	74	9.0	0.5–1 % NaOCl	25	3.1
			Other^d	36	4.0
			Do not disinfect	10	1.2

^a Saliva ejector and/or liquid rubber dam.

^b Multiple answers possible.

^c Mainly glass ionomer or composite.

^d Mainly 75–95 % alcohol-based disinfectant.

Table 3. Use of gloves and hand disinfectant during endodontic treatment.

Gloves	n	%	Hand disinfectant	n	%
During entire course of the treatment	463	57.0	No	85	10.5
Before operative field has been disinfected	235	28.9	Yes	727	89.5
After operative field has been disinfected	18	2.2
Do not use gloves	97	11.9