Evaluation of the Quality of Root Canal Treatments Performed by Dental Undergraduates: Is There a Need to Review Preclinical Endodontic Courses?

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the quality of root canal treatment (RCT) performed by undergraduate (UG) dental students at the Jordan University Dental Hospital (JUDH) using radiographic records. Methods: All RCTs performed by UG students in the period between November 2013 and May 2014 were included in this study (213 teeth). ‘Adequate’ filling quality was defined as having adequate length, density and taper with the absence of any procedural error. Statistical analysis of the resulting data was carried out using the Chi-square test (χ2). Results: 61.5% of treated teeth were adequate in length, 50.5% were adequate in density and 56.1% were adequate in taper; only 29.2 % fulfilled these criteria at the same time, the relationship between the technical quality of root filling and tooth type was statistically significant (P< 0.01); the most adequate found in maxillary anterior teeth (47.1%), the least adequate found in maxillary molar teeth (5.9%). Conclusions: The technical quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate dental students using cold lateral compaction was poor. This suggests that the undergraduate endodontic training at the JUDH needs to be improved.