Evaluation of complications of root canal treatment performed by undergraduate dental students

Abstract

This study evaluated the technical quality of root canal treatment (RCT) and detected iatrogenic errors in an undergraduate dental clinic at the College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Saudi Arabia. Dental records of 280 patients who received RCT between 2013 and 2016 undertaken by dental students were investigated by retrospective chart review. Root canal obturation was evaluated on the basis of the length of obturation being ≤2 mm from the radiographic apex, with uniform radiodensity and good adaptation to root canal walls. Inadequate root canal obturation included cases containing procedural errors such as furcal perforation, ledge, canal transportation, strip perforation, root perforation, instrument separation, voids in the obturation, or underfilling or overfilling of the obturation. In 193 (68.9%) teeth, RCT was adequate and without procedural errors. However, in 87 (31.1%) teeth, RCT was inadequate and contained procedural errors. The frequency of procedural errors in the entire sample was 31.1% as follows: underfilling, 49.9%; overfilling, 24.1%; voids, 12.6%; broken instruments, 9.2%; apical perforation, 2.3%; and root canal transportation, 2.3%. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the type or frequency of procedural errors between the fourth- and fifth-year students. Lower molars (43.1%) and upper incisors (19.2%) exhibited the highest and lowest frequencies of procedural errors, respectively. The technical quality of RCT performed by undergraduate dental students was classified as ‘adequate’ in 68.9% of the cases. There is a need for improvement in the training of students at the preclinical and clinical levels.

Radiographic analysis the obturation’s quality in root canal treatment performed by a South Brazilian sample of undergraduate students

“…In this study sample, the overall quality of RCT was of 71.9%, which is higher than some studies reported [6,[16][17][18] and lower than others [10,19]. A systematic review recently published concluded that the frequency of acceptable RCTs performed by undergraduate students varies according to teeth groups [15].…”

“…In which, the only criteria grade as unacceptable was underfilling that was present in approximately 23%. Some authors described that with the increase in difficulty there is also a decrease in the quality of RCT performed by undergraduate students [3,16]. Root canal curvature may lead to challenges in instrumentation of all root canal length, which may lead to further complications in RCT, even for experienced professionals [4].…”

Quality of Obturation Performed by Undergraduate Students Attending College of Dentistry at King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

“…This was similar to some studies conducted by Kader et al 9 (50.7% for junior students and 69.3% for senior students) and Balto et al 13 (63.3% for the 4th year and 72.4% for the fifth year). It was comparatively superior to the other studies conducted by Alrahabi et al 14 Another factor investigated in the study was the density of obturation. Obturation with voids in between the filling and canal walls was considered as having inadequate density.…”

Experimental Pulpitis Treated By Double-Pinhole Drainage

“…Acute pulpitis is prone to necrosis because the pulp is in a closed pulp chamber, lack of effective collateral circulation [1]. In clinic, pulp drying therapy, plasticization therapy and root canal therapy are effective methods to treat pulpitis, but both root canal therapy and other pulp therapy are at the cost of sacrificing part or whole of the pulps [2,3].…”