A survey over the undergraduate students' approaches toward the management of endodontic emergencies at the Dakar Dental School: A descriptive cross-sectional study

Abstract

Introduction: Endodontic emergencies are characterized by violent or disabling pain. The management of these emergencies requires a precise diagnosis and an emergency act with or without a prescription. This study primarily aimed to determine undergraduate students' knowledge on the management of endodontic emergencies at the dental school. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, students of the dental school have received questionnaires with two main parts: a first part dealing with students' identification and a second part dealing with students' knowledge and attitudes on endodontic emergency management. Participants were asked to choose the appropriate option (s) for the appropriate management of each type of endodontic emergency. Data were statistically analyzed. Results: Of the 176 students included in this study, 171 questionnaires (97.2%) were completed and returned to the authors. For each emergency, most of the respondents recommended options that are consistent with the standard protocol. The statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between correct responses according to the standard protocol and academic levels of students who attended a conference or training on endodontic emergencies and students who dealt with endodontic emergency during their training (P Conclusion: The study showed that the students' level of knowledge is high. However, they recommended inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions. This shows the need to improve student-training programs on endodontic emergencies.