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Radiographic quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students
Author(s) -
Khabbaz M. G.,
Protogerou E.,
Douka E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
international endodontic journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.988
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1365-2591
pISSN - 0143-2885
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2591.2010.01706.x
Subject(s) - dentistry , medicine , apical foramen , perforation , radiography , molar , premolar , root canal , statistical analysis , orthodontics , mathematics , surgery , materials science , statistics , punching , metallurgy
Khabbaz MG, Protogerou E, Douka E. Radiographic quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students. International Endodontic Journal , 43 , 499–508, 2010. Abstract Aim To evaluate the radiographic technical quality of root fillings and the incidence of iatrogenic errors in treatment provided by undergraduate students. Methodology Endodontic records and periapical radiographs of 759 root filled teeth were selected following exclusion of 25 (3.3%). A final total of 734 cases were used to assess the technical quality of root fillings in 1109 root canals performed by 4 th and 5 th undergraduate students. Two variables were examined: the length and the density of the fillings, categorized as acceptable and non‐acceptable. The presence of ledges, root perforation, foramen perforation and fractured instruments were also investigated. Chi‐square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results Acceptable root fillings were found in 55% of canals. More `acceptable' root fillings occurred in maxillary compared to mandibular teeth (58 and 51% respectively) ( P < 0.05) and in anterior compared with premolar (71 and 61%) and molar root canals (39% respectively) ( P < 0.05). Insignificantly more (5.4%) acceptable root fillings were provided by 5 th year students. Most of the underfillings and iatrogenic errors were detected in molars for both academic years (53 and 65% respectively). Ledges were noted in 55% of cases treated by both academic years and significantly more foramen perforations were detected in the 5 th compared with the 4 th year students ( P < 0.05). Conclusions There is a need to improve the technical quality of root fillings performed by the undergraduate students, especially in molar teeth.