Evaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students

Abstract The present study aims to evaluate the quality of root canal fillings (RCFs) on extracted mandibular molars performed by undergraduate students during their preclinical training which spans 2 academic years. Endodontics records and periapical radiographs of 260 extracted human first and sec...

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Main Authors: Muhammed Ayhan, Tuğçenur Yıldız, Eleni Protogerou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00196-y
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author Muhammed Ayhan
Tuğçenur Yıldız
Eleni Protogerou
author_facet Muhammed Ayhan
Tuğçenur Yıldız
Eleni Protogerou
author_sort Muhammed Ayhan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The present study aims to evaluate the quality of root canal fillings (RCFs) on extracted mandibular molars performed by undergraduate students during their preclinical training which spans 2 academic years. Endodontics records and periapical radiographs of 260 extracted human first and second mandibular molars without site specification consisted the sample of this retrospective cross-sectional study. All root canal fillings were performed by undergraduate students during the preclinical phase of their training The samples collected were assessed using radiographs based on three quality criteria: length, density, and taper. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis and Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was implemented to assess inter-rater reliability. The majority of the evaluated RCFs were of inadequate quality. Of the 260 mandibular molars included in the study, 67 (25.8%) were deemed sufficient in terms of overall technical quality across both academic years. 3rd-year students (44.5%) were significantly more efficient compared to their 2nd- year counterparts (12.0%) regarding the overall technical quality of RCFs (p < 0.05). RCFs performed by the 3rd -year students, were of relatively higher quality compared with those performed by the 2nd-year trainees. However, the overall technical quality of RCFs was inadequate. Improvement of the current curriculum should be considered by incorporating contemporary techniques and materials to enhance the performance of undergraduate students on RCFs, before entering the clinical phase of their training.
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spelling doaj-art-516f5ca6fa2f4477a8ba5438f467ddb72025-08-20T02:10:56ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-00196-yEvaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental studentsMuhammed Ayhan0Tuğçenur Yıldız1Eleni Protogerou2Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy UniversityDepartment of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Sakarya UniversityDepartment of Endodontics, Dental School, National and Kapodistrian University of AthensAbstract The present study aims to evaluate the quality of root canal fillings (RCFs) on extracted mandibular molars performed by undergraduate students during their preclinical training which spans 2 academic years. Endodontics records and periapical radiographs of 260 extracted human first and second mandibular molars without site specification consisted the sample of this retrospective cross-sectional study. All root canal fillings were performed by undergraduate students during the preclinical phase of their training The samples collected were assessed using radiographs based on three quality criteria: length, density, and taper. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis and Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was implemented to assess inter-rater reliability. The majority of the evaluated RCFs were of inadequate quality. Of the 260 mandibular molars included in the study, 67 (25.8%) were deemed sufficient in terms of overall technical quality across both academic years. 3rd-year students (44.5%) were significantly more efficient compared to their 2nd- year counterparts (12.0%) regarding the overall technical quality of RCFs (p < 0.05). RCFs performed by the 3rd -year students, were of relatively higher quality compared with those performed by the 2nd-year trainees. However, the overall technical quality of RCFs was inadequate. Improvement of the current curriculum should be considered by incorporating contemporary techniques and materials to enhance the performance of undergraduate students on RCFs, before entering the clinical phase of their training.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00196-yDental studentsEducationRoot canal obturation
spellingShingle Muhammed Ayhan
Tuğçenur Yıldız
Eleni Protogerou
Evaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students
Scientific Reports
Dental students
Education
Root canal obturation
title Evaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students
title_full Evaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students
title_fullStr Evaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students
title_short Evaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students
title_sort evaluation and comparison of mandibular molar root canal filling quality performed by undergraduate preclinical dental students
topic Dental students
Education
Root canal obturation
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00196-y
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AT tugcenuryıldız evaluationandcomparisonofmandibularmolarrootcanalfillingqualityperformedbyundergraduatepreclinicaldentalstudents
AT eleniprotogerou evaluationandcomparisonofmandibularmolarrootcanalfillingqualityperformedbyundergraduatepreclinicaldentalstudents