Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Purpose: The objective is to evaluate dentist’s knowledge, clinical practices, and treatment decision-making regarding the management of non-vital primary teeth, and to identify practitioner-related factors associated with pulpectomy practice and treatment choices. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted using an anonymous online survey administered through LimeSurvey®. A total of 393 questionnaires were initiated, and 257 complete responses were included in the analysis. The questionnaire assessed practitioner characteristics, pulpectomy practices, and treatment decisions in standardized clinical scenarios. Comparisons were made between practitioners exclusively practicing paediatric dentistry and general dental practitioners. Descriptive analyses, multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors. Results: Overall, 65.4% of respondents reported performing pulpectomies, with considerable variability in frequency and clinical protocols. Practitioners exclusively practicing paediatric dentistry and those with complementary postgraduate training were significantly more likely to perform pulpectomies overall. However, regular pulpectomy practice (more than 1 procedure per month) was independently associated only with exclusive paediatric dental practice. Treatment decisions in clinical scenarios were significantly associated with reported clinical practices. The use of lesion sterilization and tissue repair was rare : only 3.9% of practitioners reported practicing the procedure. Overall, substantial heterogeneity was observed in the clinical management of non-vital primary teeth. Conclusion: The management of non-vital primary teeth varies considerably among practitioners and is strongly influenced by training and scope of practice. These findings highlight the importance of strengthening both undergraduate and postgraduate education to promote more consistent and evidence-based management of pulpal infections in primary teeth. Trial registration NCT07297836 Registered on 2nd December, 2025.</p>