Technical Quality and Associated Iatrogenic Errors of Endodontic Treatments Performed in Extracted Anterior Single-Rooted Teeth by Preclinical Undergraduate Students

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1 / Andreas Koutroulis2 / Georgios Chatzopoulos3 / Vasileios Kapralos2

1Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Dentistry, Department of Endodontology, Greece
2Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Dentistry, Greece
3University of Minnesota, Division of Periodontology, Minneapolis, United States

Summary

Aim: To evaluate technical quality of root canal treatments performed in extracted anterior single-rooted teeth in an undergraduate dental clinic, and to record the associated iatrogenic errors.

Material and Method: 287 root canal treatments performed by 114 preclinical undergraduate students in extracted anterior teeth at the Department of Endodontology were radiographically evaluated, based on the following parameters: access cavity dimensions and direction, root canal instrumentation, and root canal filling quality.

Results: The access cavity was found of adequate dimensions in 28.9% and straight in direction in 71.1% of the material. Erroneous position, overextension of the access cavity and non-straight access were noted in 39.7 %, 21.6% and 28.9% of the cases, respectively. The frequency of ledged root canals was 10.1%, while 84.7% of the teeth had no instrumentation related iatrogenic errors. Regarding root canal filling, incomplete density apically and technical inadequacies in the middle and cervical thirds were observed in 76.3% and 82.3% of the cases. The percentage of flawless endodontic treatments was 3.1%.

Conclusions: Most of the endodontic treatments evaluated were classified unacceptable. Inadequate root canal filling density in the middle and cervical third and ledge formation were the most common faults.

Keywords: Dental Education; Dental Students; Endodontics; Medical Errors

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Citation Information: Balkan Journal of Dental Medicine. Volume 19, Issue 2, Pages 96–100, ISSN (Online) 2335-0245, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/bjdm-2015-0042, July 2015
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