Testing the practical validity of the sustainable endodontic material selection model

Title: Testing the Practical Validity of the Sustainable Endodontic Material Selection Model Aim: The aim of this specialty thesis is to conduct a validity study of the recently proposed Deniz & Orhan (2022) model, which is designed to objectify the selection of this specific dental material, classified as a class IIa medical device, regarding alternative endodontic nickel-titanium instruments. Materials and Methods: Following ethics committee approval and faculty board consent, data were collected between 01.01.2024 and 01.01.2025. The main study population of the thesis consisted of endodontists aged between 26 and 67 years, who are members of the Turkish Endodontic Society (TED) and hold a valid work permit in the Republic of Turkey. The material selection model whose validity was investigated in this thesis is the Deniz & Orhan model, on which reliability and validity simulations were conducted using two NiTi instruments, one virtual and one real. The method used for the validity investigation was the survey method, which is among the quantitative methods. Within the scope of this study, using an original survey form developed based on the model, the model was first applied to the participants in MS Excel through a scenario-based application. After the application, feedback regarding the usefulness of the model was obtained through closed and open-ended questions. For the closed-ended questions, the usefulness of the model was presented using descriptive statistical representation of the categorical dataset. The dataset was analyzed using the MS Excel (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA, USA) software package. Through the qualitative analysis of the responses to the open-ended questions, the advantages and disadvantages of the model were classified. Results: Demographic findings, each question with its responses, and the survey results were presented using tables and graphs. Qualitative findings were coded by three coders and presented in tables. Conclusion: Considering the limitations of this study and based on the qualitative and quantitative analyses conducted, it can be concluded that the Deniz-Orhan model: • May serve as an effective decision support tool in the selection of mechanized shaping systems for general practitioners, • May facilitate the decision-making process for practitioners who are compatible with the model during the decision phase, • As part of the qualitative analysis, the advantages and disadvantages for practitioners after experiencing the model were presented for the first time. • Generated a willingness among practitioners to use this model as a support tool in the future. Keywords: Multi-criteria decision-making, Dental material selection, Dentistry, Endodontics, Nickel-titanium instruments