Quality of root canal filling performed by undergraduate students of odontology at Kaunas University of Medicine in Lithuania.

INRODUCTION High-quality filling of root canals is one of indicators of successful endodontic treatment. However, poor-quality of the filling is still a common phenomenon in the work of general practitioners. Better training of dental students of modern odontology is possible solution of the problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of root canal filling performed by undergraduate students in single-rooted and multi-rooted teeth shaped by hand stainless-steel or rotary ProTaper instruments. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analyzed 258 post-operative radiographs under illumination and x7 magnification. 120 (46.5%) root canal were prepared using hand stainless-steel K-files, 138 (53.5%) using ProTaper rotary instruments. The filling was evaluated as adequate when it was located at 0-2 mm below the radiographic apex, under-filled>2 mm below the radiographic apex, over-filled, protruded through the radiographic apex. The filling homogeneity and condensation were also evaluated. RESULTS The filling height and position in relationship to the radiographic apex showed 84.1% were filled adequately, 10.5%--under-filled, 5.42%--over-filled. Homogeneity and density in 79.5% was good, in 20.5%--poor. CONCLUSIONS The quality of root canal filling was acceptable, because 84.1% cases were filled adequately. The density and homogeneity were statistically reliably better in the canals prepared using ProTaper System.