Perception and confidence levels among dental students and interns in performing various endodontic procedures

Abstract

Aim: The present study aimed to collect information from senior students and new interns enrolled at the College of Dentistry, University of Science and Technology (UST), regarding their confidence levels in performing endodontic treatments. Materials and Methods: Anonymous surveys were distributed to 40 senior students and 37 new interns at UST, in Sana’a, Yemen. They were asked to indicate their self-confidence level using a Likert scoring system ranging from 1 and 5. Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test were used to determine statistical significance between the studied groups. Results: 37.5% of students and 35.1% of interns rated endodontic practice as difficult. Only 55% of students found that the number of treated cases were satisfactory, similar to that reported by interns (56.8%). There were no statistically significant differences between both groups regarding self-confidence levels for most endodontic procedures (p<0.05). Placing of a rubber dam, followed by managing inter-appointment flare-ups were procedures in which both groups reported the lowest confidence. On the other hand, both groups felt the lowest confidence in the treatment of maxillary followed by mandibular molars. Statistically significant differences were reported between the two groups for performing root canal treatments (RCT) (p< 0.05). Self-confidence levels on the management of most different indications showed no statistically significant differences between both groups (p>0.05) with exception to the management of irreversible pulpitis, necrotic pulp, asymptomatic apical periodontitis, chronic abscess, and traumatic cases, in which significant differences were noticed (p<0.05). Immature apices, root resorption, endodontic-periodontal (EP) lesions, trauma, symptomatic apical periodontitis and acute abscess were ranked as the cases in which both groups reported the lowest confidence. Canal blockage and ledge formation were the main mishaps encountered during practice among students and interns. Conclusion: Students and interns displayed neutral confidence in performing endodontic treatments.