Assessing Confidence Levels in Endodontic Procedures Among Senior Undergraduate Dental Students at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Abstract

Background This study aimed to determine the confidence of senior dental students in Qassim University's undergraduate dentistry program in Saudi Arabia regarding their capacity to perform endodontic procedures. The study's objective was to pinpoint areas of weakness and offer suggestions for potential improvement of endodontic and clinical training for dental students. Methodology Using anonymous survey forms, 120 senior dental students were surveyed. Students' self-reported levels of confidence in performing various endodontic procedures, such as periapical radiographs, rubber dam placement, endodontically treated tooth restoration, anesthesia, broken instrument removal, and endodontic retreatment, were studied in this survey. A Likert-style rating scale of 1 to 5 was used in the survey, with 1 denoting high confidence and 5 denoting low confidence. Results The majority of senior dental students at Qassim University reported high levels of confidence in taking periapical radiographs, with 64.04% indicating a high level of confidence. The second most assured field was rubber dam installation, with 47.6% of students expressing high levels of assurance. Confidence levels were noticeably lower during more difficult procedures such as endodontic retreatment and the removal of broken instruments. While 12% of students expressed high confidence in endodontic retreatment, only 3.46% of students expressed high confidence in removing broken instruments. According to Pearson's correlation (r = 0.352, p = 0.001), there was a significant and favorable correlation between competency level and confidence in performing various endodontic procedure-related steps. Conclusions The study's findings suggest that senior dentistry students at Qassim University might benefit from additional training and assistance in some endodontic treatment areas. The lack of confidence displayed during more challenging procedures, such as the removal of broken instruments and endodontic retreatment, demonstrates the need for additional training and supervision in such cases. The results of this study may be useful for educators in other dental colleges who wish to consider developing new teaching techniques, utilizing simulators and digital learning tools, and increasing opportunities for hands-on training and supervision to improve dental students' self-confidence and skills.