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CC BY 4.0 · Eur J Dent 2023; 17(01): 191-199
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1743150
Original Article

An Audit of the Technical Quality and Iatrogenic Errors of Root Canal Treatment by Undergraduate Dental Students at the University of Sharjah

Saaid Al Shehadat 
1   Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
,
Mohamed El-Kishawi 
1   Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
,
Asma AlMudalal
1   Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
,
Asma AlSaqer
1   Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
,
Aya Nassar
1   Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
,
Leena Zihlif
1   Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
,
Yazan Mahmoud
1   Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
,
Venkateshbabu Nagendrababu
1   Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, College of Dental Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
,
Thilla Sekar Vinothkumar 
2   Restorative Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan Universtiy, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Abstract

Objectives The aim of this study was to determine the technical quality of root canal fillings and the presence of iatrogenic errors in the cases treated by undergraduate dental students using radiographic images.

Materials and Methods This study included 480 root-filled teeth, which were evaluated using intraoral periapical radiographic images. The technical quality of obturation was assessed by observing the length, density, and taperness of the root filling. Ledges, apical transportation, fractured instruments, zipping, and root perforation were recorded as iatrogenic errors. Teeth were classified as acceptable if the technical parameters were adequate and there were no iatrogenic errors.

Statistical Analysis Data were statistically analyzed using Pearson's chi-squared test.

Results The quality of root filling was acceptable in 183 of the 480 teeth. The rate of acceptable quality was higher for the teeth treated by 4th-year students (41.9%) than for those treated by 5th-year students (27.4%; p = 0.004). Length and taperness were adequate in more of the patients treated by the 4th-year students (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the incidence of ledge formation and apical transportation in relation to the student's level (p<0.05).

Conclusions The technical quality of root fillings performed without iatrogenic errors by undergraduate dental students was declared acceptable in 38.1% of the assessed teeth. There was a noticeable difference in the quality of root canal treatment between the 4th- and 5th-year students.

Clinical Relevance The findings demonstrate that periodic assessment of the technical quality of root filling performed by undergraduate dental students provides feedback on curriculum standards.

Keywords

iatrogenic errors - radiograph - root canal treatment - technical quality - undergraduate clinic - clinical audit - radiographic evaluation

Ethical Approval

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee.


Informed Consent

Informed consent was not obtained because of the retrospective nature of this study.


Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
13 March 2022

© 2022. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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