Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Dentists Regarding the Diagnosis and Management of White Spot Lesions
Background: The management of white spot caries lesions (WSCLs) presents a clinical challenge due to a lack of standardized protocols. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of dental practitioners in Russia regarding the diagnosis and treatment of WSCLs. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted from October 2024 to July 2025 among 397 dental professionals in Russia. A validated questionnaire assessed four domains: demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and clinical practices concerning WSCL management. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Spearman’s correlation. Results: The majority of respondents were females (83%), with over half having less than five years of experience (55%). A majority of the practitioners (62.5%) demonstrated a good level of knowledge (mean score 12.8 ± 2.2). Knowledge was significantly better among female practitioners (p < 0.001) and inversely correlated with years of clinical experience (p < 0.001). Attitudes towards minimally invasive treatment were mainly positive (mean score 13.5 ± 2.6), with 86% of respondents showing a positive score (>10 points). While awareness of minimally invasive techniques like resin infiltration (84%) and remineralization (79.1%) was high, clinical practice varied. Remineralization was the most frequently used treatment (68% used casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate and 62% used fluoride), whereas resin infiltration was used by 46% and microabrasion by only 5% of the respondents. A majority of dentists (52%) preferred monitoring lesions rather than immediate intervention. Conclusions: Russian dental practitioners possess good theoretical knowledge and positive attitudes toward contemporary, minimally invasive management of WSCLs. However, a significant gap exists between knowledge and clinical practice, particularly concerning the use of resin infiltration and microabrasion. These findings underscore the need for continuous education on the topic.
Authors
- Alexandr Zaytsev (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3774-3070)
- Inna Sokhova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1569-8080)
- Nina Novozhilova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1073-7693)
- I.A. Makeeva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7783-4439)
- Ksenia Babina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4445-0858)
- Maria Polyakova (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4494-2644)
- Anna Mikheikina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5372-3569)
- Anastasia Mun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-2021-4673)
Institutions
- Sechenov University (RU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Dentistry Journal
- Published
- 2026-06-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/dj14060365
- Primary Topic
- Dental Health and Care Utilization
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00