Diagnosis and treatment of dental caries: Knowledge of undergraduate dentistry students
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i5.51113Keywords:
Knowledge, Differential Diagnosis, Dentistry, Dental Caries, Therapeutics.Abstract
Objective: To investigate the technical and scientific knowledge of 6th to 10th semester dental students at a public university regarding the differential diagnosis of dental caries and clinical decision-making in patient management. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional and descriptive study conducted at the Federal University of Pernambuco. An illustrated questionnaire with images of dental caries in different stages was applied to 162 students. Results: In differential diagnosis, the accuracy rates were satisfactory, especially in active dental caries with or without cavitation. However, difficulties were observed in defining clinical management, mainly in the case of inactive lesions. In active lesions with cavitation, despite high diagnostic recognition, some students did not indicate the correct clinical management, with incomplete answers predominating. Conclusion: There was a progression of knowledge throughout the semesters, although students demonstrate increasing competence in the visual differential diagnosis of dental caries, they still show weaknesses in clinical management. These findings demonstrate the need to improve academic training, strengthening clinical reasoning and encouraging evidence-based therapeutic practices, in order to promote preventive and minimally invasive dentistry.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Vit´ória Wanielle Santos Mendes de Siqueira, Ivoneide Maria de Melo Zimmermann, Rogério Dubosselard Zimmermann
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