Radiographic analysis the obturation’s quality in root canal treatment performed by a South Brazilian sample of undergraduate students

Abstract

Objective: to investigate the quality of root canal treatments performed by undergraduate students. Methods: 274 root-filled teeth (excluding molars) from the Department of Endodontology of the Federal University of Santa Catarina in a nine-year period were selected and evaluated by two calibrated examiners. The evaluation was based on tooth type, number of root canals, presence or absence curvature, length of filling material considered the radiographic apex as reference (considered adequate shorter than 2mm from radiographic apex), filling material density, filling taper, and overall quality of RCT. Chi-square and Fisher exact tests were performed to analyze associations between variables of interest (p0.05). The factor more frequently identified as unacceptable was filling length (26.6%). All RCT performed in curved teeth and classified as unacceptable were underfilled. Procedural errors, such as perforations or instrumental separation, were not found in this sample. Conclusion: The most common criteria identified as unacceptable was the length of the filling material. Incisors had better quality assessment rates than canines and premolars. The high-quality rates found in this sample may be linked to the professor/student rates.

Keywords

• dental students
• root canal treatment
• technical expertise