Changes in the Difficulty of Endodontic Cases Treated by Undergraduate Students at a University Clinic Between 1971 and 2019

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the proportions of complicated endodontic cases treated by undergraduate dental students in a University clinic now and in the past. Material and Methods: Data were obtained from the electronic records and previous publications from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway. The operators were dental undergraduate students in their final 2 years of training. Proportions of tooth types, diagnosis, and retreatments were studied. Results: The amount of endodontically treated molars increased from 18% in 1971% to 44% in 2019. The number of teeth with preoperative apical periodontitis increased from 31% to 46%, and retreatments from 9% to 15%. The changes were highly significant, with the greatest change occurring from 1984 to 2009. Conclusion: Undergraduate students are exposed to more complicated teeth now than 50 years ago.