Awareness and Acceptance of Deep Margin Elevation amongst Dental Practitioners- A cross-sectional multicentric study

Abstract Background Deep margin elevation (DME) is a restorative technique that facilitates the placement of restorations in cases of subgingival margins. Although clinically reported, very few data are available on dental practitioners’ awareness and use of DME. Objectives To evaluate awareness and clinical acceptance toward deep margin elevation (DME) use in subgingival restorative cases among dental practitioners worldwide. Methodology A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among practicing dentists at various dental educational institutions, private dental practices, and a combination of academic and private dental practices across multiple centers globally. The self-administered questionnaire consisted of 20 closed-ended questions to evaluate awareness and clinical acceptance. The data were entered into and analyzed using a Chi-square test and descriptive statistics in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Results Out of 450 invited participants, 349 general dental practitioners completed the survey (77.6%). The purely educational institutions’ response rate was 79 (23%), the strictly private dental practice response rate was 134 (39%), and the combined academic and private practice response rate was 131 (38%). Sixty-six percent of respondents agreed that predictable adhesive bonding to cervical/root dentin can be achieved in restorations with deep margins. Although a majority of respondents had heard of DME (77%), the majority reported a preference for surgical crown lengthening (75%) when favorable conditions were present. Conclusion The study highlights moderate DME awareness among the study participants. The findings of this study revealed that the number of dentists who use the technique to restore large subgingival defects in posterior teeth with proximal caries is very small. Thus, it is recommended that dental practitioners introduce this technique in their dental clinics as an alternative to surgical crown lengthening. Although years of experience and a dentist’s rank may influence clinical decisions, an in-depth factorial analysis with a larger sample size is necessary.