Assessing Dental Practitioners' Training, Knowledge, and Confidence Regarding Abscesses with Incision and Drainage Procedures: A South Texas Oral Health Network Study.

Background: This study assessed dental practitioners' training, knowledge, confidence, and continuing education (CE) on performing small (<5 mm) and large (>5 mm) abscess incision and drainage procedures, a critical intervention to prevent abscess progression and complications. Methods: An electronic data capture (REDCap) survey of 30 questions was conducted in the South Texas Oral Health Network (STOHN), a Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). Results: 112 practitioners participated in the study. Dental practitioners' who performed incision and drainage procedures were 1) less likely to have didactic small (38% vs 62%) and large (39% vs 61%) abscess incision and drainage procedures training in dental school in one semester (p<.05) and 2) were more likely to perceive their training to be adequate/sufficient 76% vs. 15% (p<.001). Dental practitioners who performed incision and drainage procedures were more likely to report good or very strong knowledge of small and large abscess incision and drainage procedures (69% vs. 43%, p=.002). Those who performed incision and drainage procedures were more likely to report higher confidence in acute abscess incision and drainage procedures (88% vs 60% confident, p=.002). Dental practitioners with only didactic training (including lectures or seminars in dental school) (11.6%) were less likely to perform incision and drainage procedures (p<.001). Furthermore, those with only didactic training in school reported less knowledge (21% vs 1% with little knowledge, p=.021) and confidence (40% vs 12% with little confidence, p=.021). Practitioners who attended CE courses on incision and drainage were more confident and likely to perform the procedure (p<.05), yet only 12% relied on CE for large abscess training, highlighting an education gap. Conclusion: Education, training, and CE participation impact a practitioner's confidence and likelihood of performing incision and drainage procedures, highlighting the need for expanded hands-on CE opportunities to enhance competence and patient care.