Balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth: How age, gender, and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists’ preferences

Context: Balancing and compensating extractions (BCEs) of primary teeth are widely practiced in pediatric dentistry to prevent space loss and midline deviations. However, pediatric dentists’ preferences regarding BCEs may be influenced by various demographic and professional factors. Understanding t...

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Main Authors: Eser Rengin Nalbantoglu, Parmjit Singh
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-04-01
Series:Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_63_25
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author Eser Rengin Nalbantoglu
Parmjit Singh
author_facet Eser Rengin Nalbantoglu
Parmjit Singh
author_sort Eser Rengin Nalbantoglu
collection DOAJ
description Context: Balancing and compensating extractions (BCEs) of primary teeth are widely practiced in pediatric dentistry to prevent space loss and midline deviations. However, pediatric dentists’ preferences regarding BCEs may be influenced by various demographic and professional factors. Understanding these preferences is essential for standardizing guidelines and optimizing clinical decision-making. Aims: This study aims to investigate whether pediatric dentists’ preferences for BCEs of primary teeth within the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) are influenced by age, gender, clinical work setting, and referral practices to orthodontists. Settings and Design: A survey of the total population of BSPD members was conducted to explore variations in BCE practices based on demographic and professional characteristics. Subjects and Methods: A structured online survey was distributed to 288 BSPD members. The questionnaire included demographic questions and clinical case scenarios related to BCEs. The survey was pilot-tested and validated before distribution. The study adhered to national clinical guidelines, and ethical approvals were obtained. Statistical Analysis Used: Categorical data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Contingency tables were generated to compare groups, and statistical significance was assessed using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, where appropriate. Cramér’s V (CV) test was used to determine effect sizes. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Over 80% of pediatric dentists adhered to national guidelines for BCEs, with secondary care practitioners exhibiting a slightly higher adherence rate (86%) compared to primary care practitioners (66.7%). Significant differences in BCE practices were found for primary canines in crowded arches by clinical setting (P = 0.001, CV = 0.493), for first molars in crowded arches by gender (P = 0.05, CV = 0.319), and for primary canines in spaced arches by age (P = 0.001, CV = 0.463). For children aged 6–9 years, differences were significant for primary canines in crowded arches by clinical settings (P = 0.004, CV = 0.436) and for first molars in spaced arches by gender (P = 0.034, CV = 0.376). Older pediatric dentists (over 50 years) were significantly less likely to refer patients for orthodontic opinions than younger dentists (P = 0.019, CV = 0.317). Conclusions: Pediatric dentists’ BCE preferences are influenced by their clinical work settings, age, and gender. The study highlights the need for standardizing BCE guidelines and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration with orthodontists to ensure evidence-based, uniform decision-making.
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spelling doaj-art-bcca46fffe8946d3934d2e6be000b78c2025-08-20T02:44:04ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsJournal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry0970-43881998-39052025-04-0143220921510.4103/jisppd.jisppd_63_25Balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth: How age, gender, and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists’ preferencesEser Rengin NalbantogluParmjit SinghContext: Balancing and compensating extractions (BCEs) of primary teeth are widely practiced in pediatric dentistry to prevent space loss and midline deviations. However, pediatric dentists’ preferences regarding BCEs may be influenced by various demographic and professional factors. Understanding these preferences is essential for standardizing guidelines and optimizing clinical decision-making. Aims: This study aims to investigate whether pediatric dentists’ preferences for BCEs of primary teeth within the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) are influenced by age, gender, clinical work setting, and referral practices to orthodontists. Settings and Design: A survey of the total population of BSPD members was conducted to explore variations in BCE practices based on demographic and professional characteristics. Subjects and Methods: A structured online survey was distributed to 288 BSPD members. The questionnaire included demographic questions and clinical case scenarios related to BCEs. The survey was pilot-tested and validated before distribution. The study adhered to national clinical guidelines, and ethical approvals were obtained. Statistical Analysis Used: Categorical data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Contingency tables were generated to compare groups, and statistical significance was assessed using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, where appropriate. Cramér’s V (CV) test was used to determine effect sizes. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Over 80% of pediatric dentists adhered to national guidelines for BCEs, with secondary care practitioners exhibiting a slightly higher adherence rate (86%) compared to primary care practitioners (66.7%). Significant differences in BCE practices were found for primary canines in crowded arches by clinical setting (P = 0.001, CV = 0.493), for first molars in crowded arches by gender (P = 0.05, CV = 0.319), and for primary canines in spaced arches by age (P = 0.001, CV = 0.463). For children aged 6–9 years, differences were significant for primary canines in crowded arches by clinical settings (P = 0.004, CV = 0.436) and for first molars in spaced arches by gender (P = 0.034, CV = 0.376). Older pediatric dentists (over 50 years) were significantly less likely to refer patients for orthodontic opinions than younger dentists (P = 0.019, CV = 0.317). Conclusions: Pediatric dentists’ BCE preferences are influenced by their clinical work settings, age, and gender. The study highlights the need for standardizing BCE guidelines and emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration with orthodontists to ensure evidence-based, uniform decision-making.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_63_25balancing extractionsbritish society of paediatric dentistryclinical decision-makingclinical preferencescompensating extractionsorthodontic referralspediatric dentistryprimary teeth
spellingShingle Eser Rengin Nalbantoglu
Parmjit Singh
Balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth: How age, gender, and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists’ preferences
Journal of Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry
balancing extractions
british society of paediatric dentistry
clinical decision-making
clinical preferences
compensating extractions
orthodontic referrals
pediatric dentistry
primary teeth
title Balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth: How age, gender, and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists’ preferences
title_full Balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth: How age, gender, and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists’ preferences
title_fullStr Balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth: How age, gender, and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists’ preferences
title_full_unstemmed Balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth: How age, gender, and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists’ preferences
title_short Balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth: How age, gender, and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists’ preferences
title_sort balancing and compensating extractions in primary teeth how age gender and clinical setting shape pediatric dentists preferences
topic balancing extractions
british society of paediatric dentistry
clinical decision-making
clinical preferences
compensating extractions
orthodontic referrals
pediatric dentistry
primary teeth
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/jisppd.jisppd_63_25
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