Management of Hot Tooth in Dental Practice: Awareness and Strategies Assessed through a Cross-Sectional Survey

Objective: To assess awareness, knowledge, and management strategies for handling hot tooth cases among dental practitioners. Study Design: A cross-sectional descriptive study Place and Duration of Study: Department of Endodontics , at Sardar Begum Dental College & Hospital, Gandhara University, Peshawar, from June 2023 to December 2023. Materials and Methods: A survey was administered to 180 dental practitioners, including general dentists, endodontists, and oral surgeons. The questionnaire collected data on demographics, knowledge of the hot tooth phenomenon, anesthetic techniques, management approaches, and practitioners’ confidence in handling such cases. Regression analysis identified factors influencing confidence levels. Results: Of the respondents, 83.3% were familiar with the hot tooth phenomenon, but only 66.7% understood its pathophysiology. The inferior alveolar nerve block (44.4%) was the most commonly used technique, yet 72.2% reported difficulty achieving effective anesthesia. Alternative procedures, such as intraosseous injections, were utilized by 55.6% to enhance anesthetic success. Regression analysis revealed that years of practice (β = 0.12, p = 0.005), endodontic specialty (β = 0.25, p = 0.001), and prior awareness of hot tooth (β = 0.30, p< 0.001) were significant predictors of confidence (R² = 0.65, p< 0.001). Conclusion: Most dental practitioners recognize the hot tooth phenomenon, but many lack comprehensive knowledge of its management. Endodontists and experienced practitioners demonstrate higher confidence, emphasizing the need for enhanced training in anesthetic techniques and alternative management methods.