Assessment of the Quality of Root Canal Treatment Performed by Undergraduates in College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia: A Radiographic Analysis

Background: The education of undergraduate dental students in endodontics should be of high standards to enable newly graduate dentists to deal with the most commonly encountered endodontic clinical problems. Hence, the objective of this study is to evaluate radiographically the quality of root canal fillings done by undergraduate students in the College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia and to compare the quality of root canal fillings among the student’s level 9-12. Materials and Methods: In a retrospective observational study, a total of 250 endodontically treated teeth with 352 root canals were evaluated. Three periapical radiographs of each root filled tooth were examined. The length, density, taper of root fillings, and presence of procedural errors were examined. The length of the root canal filling was categorized as adequate, short, and overfilled in relation to the radiographic apex. Density and tapering of the filling were based on voids and uniform tapering from the orifice to the apex. The procedural errors examined were ledge, missed canal, gouging, fractured instrument, and perforation. Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: The length of root canal filling was adequate for 217 canals and no voids in 162 canals and tapering was adequate for 165 canals of 352 canals examined. The short filling, the presence of voids and inadequate tapering, is more common in level 9 than higher levels. The most common procedural errors were ledge formation and gauging. Conclusion: The radiographic quality of the root canal treatment performed by undergraduate students in the College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, was satisfactory compared to other similar studies.