Acceptance and Use of Protective Stabilization Devices by Pediatric Dentistry Diplomates in the United States.

Purpose: To assess acceptance and use of protective stabilization devices (PSD) by Pediatric Dentistry Diplomates.

Methods: Surveys were electronically mailed in 2013 to 2922 members of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry's (ABPD) College of Diplomates. Bivariate (assessing provider personal and practice characteristics) and multivariate analyses were performed on reported acceptance and use of PSD.

Results: Response rate was 28 percent. Providers more likely to report acceptance and use of PSD were those in practices with lower SES patient base, where there was the perception that patients' parents were more accepting of PSD, and those with low patient volume. Provider who were more likely to report acceptance and use of PSD were female, not working solely in private practice, and from Southeast or North Central regions of the U.S. Neither PSD use during residency nor ABPD Board cohort (<2009 versus 2009-2013) was associated with current acceptance or PSD use. Upon multivariate assessments of practice and personal characteristics, only perception of parent acceptance was associated with provider acceptance whereas perception of parental acceptance, practitioner sex and practice setting were associated with provider use of PSD.

Conclusions: Practitioner sex, practice setting, region, and perception of parental acceptance are all important factors related to PSD acceptance and use.