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RGO.Revista Gaúcha de Odontologia (Online)

versão On-line ISSN 1981-8637

Resumo

D'AVILA, Sérgio et al. Influence of patient age on dentists' decision-making to extract or preserve a tooth. RGO, Rev. gaúch. odontol. (Online) [online]. 2012, vol.60, n.2, pp. 221-226. ISSN 1981-8637.

Objective The study examined the influence of patient age on the process of decision-making by dentists in keeping or extracting an extensively decayed tooth. Methods This is a cross-sectional study that used "case scenarios". The sample consisted of 81 general dental practitioners Campina Grande (Paraíba). They answered a two-part questionnaire, one containing their identification data and another to determine the treatment decision. The case scenario 1 presented a face photograph of a young patient and a photograph of an extensively decayed tooth. After presenting the case, the question was put: "In your opinion, what is the prognosis for this tooth? Would you extract or maintain the tooth? "After a minimum interval of one month, a second meeting was arranged and the case scenario 2 was presented: the photograph of the face of an elderly patient and the photograph of the same tooth, and the same question was asked. Data were entered on a SPSS software spreadsheet and the statistical analysis of association was carried out using the Chi-square test. Results The majority opted for greater preservation of the tooth of a young patient (95.1%) than in elderly patients (75.3%). However, the frequency of decisions to extract the tooth in a young patient was compared with the decision for the elderly patient and revealed a greater preservation of the tooth of the young one. Conclusion Patient's age influences the decision-making process for treatment by the dentist.

Palavras-chave : Community dentistry.; Decision making.; Prejudice..

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