Technical Quality of Root Fillings Performed by Dental Students in Babol Dental School

Abstract

<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: FA; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Introduction:</span><span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-bidi-theme-font: major-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: FA; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> There is substantial evidence that the technical quality of root canal<br/>filling has a significant effect on the outcome of root canal treatment. The<br/>aim of this study was to evaluate the technical quality of root canal fillings<br/>performed by dental students. Methods: The records of 325 teeth<br/>radiographs, treated by dental students in 2008-2009 in Babol Dental School,<br/>were selected and evaluated. For each tooth, three periapical radiographs<br/>(before treatment, during operation and at the end of treatment) were examined.<br/>Filling length, density and taper, and presence or absence of void was<br/>evaluated. Obturations that have proper length, density and taper, without any<br/>void are classified as acceptable root canal fillings. The SPSS statistical<br/>software and Chi-Square test were used for analysis. Results: Of the 325<br/>radiographs, 72% had good length and 75% had acceptable taper. There were 14.2%<br/>low densities, whereas, only 3.32% of teeth have no void. At least 17.8% of<br/>teeth had underfilling and 10.2% overfilling. Finally, only 17.5% of teeth<br/>showed acceptable filling length, taper and density without any void. There was<br/>no significant difference between the 4^th and 5^th year<br/>students and oral hygienist (who studied oral hygiene and now continuing it to<br/>dentistry) in root canal filling quality (P> 0.05). Conclusion:<br/>Technical quality of root fillings performed by dental students was found to be<br/>less than 20%. .It should be revised in the endodontic curriculum requirement<br/>to improve their performance</span>