Evaluation of radiographic quality of root canal obturation performed by undergraduate and postgraduate clinical dental students in a Nigerian hospital.

INTRODUCTION

the three-dimensional fluid-tight obturation of the root canal system ends the endodontic treatment process and the technical quality of obturation of the root canal (RC) is a determinant of the outcome of the treatment. This final stage of RCT is critical in the outcome of treatment, thus the need to have adequate and quality obturation. The audit of the performance of students in this aspect evaluates performances and identifies where there is a need for improvement. Therefore, we set out to evaluate the quality of root canal obturation performed by undergraduate and postgraduate clinical dental students.

METHODS

a cross-sectional study that evaluated the root canal obturation performed by undergraduate and postgraduate students in a teaching hospital, for 1 year. The radiographic evaluation was done by calibrated assessors. The radiographs were viewed under magnifying lenses (x3.5). The adequacy of length and homogeneity of the density of obturation were the outcome variables assessed in all the categories of teeth treated among patients who are 18 years and above, seen during the study period.

RESULTS

eighty-four maxillary and 36 mandibular teeth were root-filled in 97 patients with a mean age of 37.6 years ± 14.7 SD. A good proportion (47.5%) of the root fillings were done by the postgraduate doctors. Most of the canals (69.4%) had acceptable lengths while density was acceptable in only 37.7%. Slightly over half of canals with acceptable length (64 out of 127; 50.4%) were reported in teeth with single canals (p=0.000) likewise with density (28;40.6%). Overall acceptable length and root filling density was 28.9% and there was no statistical significance in the performances of the operators in relation to the length of root filling (p=0.109), and density (p=0.55).

CONCLUSION

the overall acceptable length and root filling density was 28.9% among both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The adequacy of root canal filling may be dependent on experience, the complexity of the tooth, and the method of instrumentation.