Evaluation of the quality of root canal treatment performed by undergraduate dental students

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the quality of root canal treatments performed by fifth year undergraduatedental students at the Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Gaziantep University.Material and Methods: A total sample of 584 records of patients was investigated. The technical quality of 523 root canal fillingsproviding criteria was evaluated according to the distance among the end of the filling and the radiographic apex, density of the fillingand the quality of the obturation. All examined periapical radiographs were taken during the procedure. A root canal with acceptablequality was defined as having acceptable length and density.Results: The highest quality in maxilla and mandible was found in incisors (64% and 64.8% respectively) and the lowest quality wasfound in molars (44.8% and 43.5% respectively). There was a statistically significant difference between the incisors and molars inthe maxillary and mandibular jaws (p