How is working length determination taught? A survey to assess what is recommended in undergraduate Schools of Dentistry in Brazil.

Abstract

To analyse what are the methods for working length (WLD) determination taught for undergraduate students in Brazilian Dental Schools and the perception of professors about the use of electronic WL determination in the clinical practice. An online questionnaire with eighteen closed questions was sent to 209 Schools of Dentistry in Brazil using the Google Forms Platform. The questionnaire was structured to analyse the perception of professors in the department of endodontics about the method of working length determination taught in undergraduate courses in Dentistry. The data collected in the questionnaires were transferred to an Excel® spreadsheet and analysed using absolute and relative frequencies. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare groups. Of the 209 schools contacted, 41 (19.61%) returned answers to the questionnaire. According to professors, electronic working length (WL) determination had a shorter length of time to perform it (p<.001), WL measurement accuracy (p<.001) and ease of performance (p<.001). Professors felt safer when maintaining patency when using electronic WL determination (p=.0020). Both radiographic and electronic methods of WL determination are taught in Brazilian Schools of Dentistry. The electronic method was used more frequently, especially in undergraduate clinical courses.