Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Nanoparticles in Endodontics: A Survey Study

Abstract

It is now possible to enhance the use of antimicrobial agents in endodontic therapy through the use of nanoparticles, which offers new prospects in dental treatment. However, little is known about the level of sophistication of these dental practitioners regarding their awareness and use of these technologies in practice. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the KAP of dental practitioners on the use of nanoparticles in endodontic therapy. An online self-completed cross-sectional survey was conducted among general practitioners, endodontists, and dental students. The findings indicated that among the overall respondents, 94.1% of participants were aware of nanoparticles and their potential, and only 10.8% had incorporated them into their clinical practice. A total of 91.8% of the respondents had a positive attitude towards the use of nanoparticles in root canal therapy which implies that they found nanoparticles useful. However, the gap between the level of awareness and actual usage points to some of the hurdles such as; the inability to access the materials and poor understanding of how best to apply them. The study also emphasizes the need to increase awareness and availability of nanoparticle-containing products to improve the application of nanoparticles in clinical endodontics due to the identified gap in the translation of research findings into practice.