Quality of Root Canal Fillings Performed by Undergraduate Students and the Related Factors on the Treatment Outcome: A 2- to 5-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate radiographically the quality of root canal fillings performed by undergraduate students between 2012 and 2015, and to investigate the impact of their quality in correlation with root type,preoperative periapical status, and type of restorative treatment on the treatment outcome.Methods: Six hundred seventy-seven non-surgical root canal treatments were performed by undergraduatestudents from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki at the endodontic department clinics between 2012and 2015. Two hundred forty-four teeth (349 roots) fulfilled the criteria and were clinically and radiographically re-examined between 2016 and 2017, and the outcome was classified as “success” or “failure.” Root canalfillings were radiographically evaluated in terms of apical extension and density. The root filling was classifiedas acceptable when both parameters were rated as acceptable. Statistical analysis was performed using generalized estimating equations. Pairwise comparisons were performed by the sequential Bonferroni method.Intra-examiner and inter-examiner agreements were checked by the intraclass correlation coefficient andCohen’s kappa. The statistical significance level was set at p