Evaluation of Treatment and Restoration Preferences in Deep Carious Lesions among Libyan Dentists in Benghazi: Questionnaire-Based Study

Background: Management of deep carious lesions requires careful clinical decision-making to preserve pulp vitality while achieving effective disease control. Although minimally invasive approaches, including vital pulp therapy (VPT), are increasingly supported by contemporary evidence, their adoption in clinical practice remains variable. This study assessed dentists’ perceptions, confidence, material selection, and reported management preferences for deep carious lesions and carious pulp exposures in permanent teeth in Benghazi, Libya. Methodology: A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among dentists practising in Benghazi, Libya. The questionnaire explored participants’ clinical preferences, management strategies, material choices, confidence, and perceived barriers in relation to deep carious lesions and carious pulp exposures. Clinical scenarios were used to assess treatment and material selection. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and chi-square tests were used to explore associations between variables, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 140 questionnaires were analysed. Most participants were female (75.7%), including specialists (43.6%), general dental practitioners (40.7%), and postgraduate students (15.7%). Although 80% routinely used rubber dams, only 52.7% placed them before caries excavation. Direct pulp capping was preferred for pulp exposures <1 mm (86.4%), while root canal treatment was favored for exposures >2 mm (62.1%). Specialists and postgraduate students more frequently selected conservative pulp-preserving approaches (p < 0.001) and calcium silicate-based materials (p < 0.05), whereas general dental practitioners more often selected calcium hydroxide (p < 0.05) and root canal treatment. Key barriers to contemporary VPT included inadequate training, cost, limited material availability, and low confidence. Conclusion: Libyan dentists showed encouraging awareness of contemporary VPT principles; however, variation in treatment choices highlights the need for targeted education, hands-on training, and improved access to calcium silicate-based materials to support evidence-based practice.