1.Obturation Quality Evaluation and Number of Visits Required to Complete Root Canal Treatment Performed by Undergraduate Students
Wen Yun Ng ; Kasmawati Mokhtar ; Mohamad Syahrizal Halim ; Rosnani Mamat
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2021;17(No.3):245-251
Introduction: Assessment of root canal treatment (RCT) quality performed by undergraduate students is important in
evaluating the teaching of endodontic. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the obturation quality of root canal treated
teeth and the number of visits required by patients to complete RCT rendered by undergraduate students in School
of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Methods: All RCT cases performed by fourth year and final
year undergraduate dental students in 2017/2018 were included in this study with a total of 258 teeth. Both digital
and conventional periapical radiographs of all treated teeth were assessed. Evaluation of the obturation quality was
classified as acceptable and unacceptable based on the length in relation to the radiographic apex and density of
the obturation in relation to the presence of voids. The number of visits required to complete each RCT case by the
students were also assessed. Results: Out of the total 258 teeth, 63.6% were maxillary and 36.4% were mandibular
comprising 53.5% anteriors, 14.7% premolars and 31.8% molars. Overall acceptable obturation quality was 71.3%.
There was significant association between obturation quality and type of teeth as well as location of teeth. Conclusion: Students in this institution performed significantly better obturation quality on anterior teeth than on premolars
and molars as well as on maxillary teeth as compared to the mandibular teeth. Patients seemed to require more visits
for RCT of molars than anteriors and premolars.