How is carious pulp exposure and symptomatic irreversible pulpitis managed in UK primary dental care?

We aimed to investigate attitudes and approaches of UK primary care dentists to carrying out vital pulp treatment (VPT) after carious exposure and with additional signs and symptoms indicative of irreversible pulpitis. Practitioners deviated from evidence‐based guidelines in a number of aspects including material selection, asepsis and case selection. A number of other challenges exist in primary care in providing predictable VPTs, including lack of time and access to magnification. These were most evident in NHS practice, potentially exacerbating existing social health inequalities. Possible inconsistencies in the UK undergraduate curriculum were supported by a lack of association between years since qualification and technique employed as well as the fact that non‐UK graduates and dentists with postgraduate qualifications adhered more to evidence‐based VPT guidelines.