Preclinical endodontic teaching. A survey of Saudi dental schools

Influence of the incorporation of small-group practical seminars to a traditional lecture for the understanding of root canal morphology classification systems

INTRODUCTION

This study aimed to assess if the incorporation of small-group practical seminars into a traditional lecture format improved the understanding and learning of the root canal classification systems in undergraduate students.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A small-group practical seminar was designed for 3rd year undergraduate students. The seminar consisted of the analysis of a guided summary of root canal morphology classifications, a participative discussion of several cases and drawing exercises of several internal anatomies based on the different classifications in templates presenting the external anatomy of different dental groups. Students were inquired about their perspectives on the different classifications and the learning strategies with an anonymous questionnaire. The knowledge acquired was assessed in an exam. The scores obtained were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test with those obtained in the cohort of the previous year in which only the traditional lecture was delivered.

RESULTS

Students' scores (mean = 7.7; SD = 2.5) were significantly higher (p = .006) than those from the previous cohort (mean = 6.9; SD = 2.3). Most students agreed that Ahmed's classification system was the most complete (98.8%) and intuitive (84%), but also the most difficult to understand (67%). All the students believed that the learning activity helped them understand the new classification system.

CONCLUSION

The incorporation of small-group practical seminars into traditional lecture improved the understanding and learning of root canal configurations in undergraduate students. Students rated the classification system suggested by Ahmed et al. as the most complete and intuitive out of the three systems, but also the most difficult to learn.

Prevalence of Teaching Apical Patency and Various Instrumentation and Obturation Techniques in United States Dental Schools: Two Decades Later

INTRODUCTION

Maintaining apical patency has been advocated to minimize canal transportation, ledge formation, and loss of working length, despite increasing debris extrusion. A previous study in 1997 by Cailleteau and Mullaney reported 50% of United States dental schools taught patency. This present study aimed to evaluate recent trends in endodontic education in United States dental schools, in relation to the prevalence of maintaining apical patency and examining the primary methods of working length determination, instrumentation, obturation, and temporization.

METHODS

A survey of 20 questions was distributed to 65 schools via e-mail and was available from July 2021 to September 2021.

RESULTS

Seventy-three percent of the 46 responding schools reported that they teach patency, with 8% of this number reporting that they do so exclusively to endodontic residents. Notably, a significantly lower number of schools reported teaching patency exclusively to endodontic students compared with the Cailleteau and Mullaney study despite a significantly higher percentage of schools teaching patency overall. The most common method used to determine working length was an electronic apex locator at the 0.5 reading. Vortex Blue was the most commonly used file system used by both predoctoral and postdoctoral programs. Lateral condensation was the primary obturation technique taught in predoctoral programs, whereas warm vertical condensation was the primary obturation technique in postdoctoral programs. The study also found that 57% of schools reported using intraorifice barriers, and the most common temporary filling was glass ionomer.

CONCLUSIONS

A greater portion of schools teaches patency compared with the previous study in 1997. The data collected in this survey may serve as a baseline for similar studies in the future regarding changes in endodontic education over time.

A Critical Evaluation of the Undergraduate Endodontic Teaching in Dental Colleges of Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND

The purpose of the research was to evaluate the content and delivery of the undergraduate endodontic curriculum.

METHODS

A needs assessment survey was distributed among the Deans of all the dental colleges in Saudi Arabia.

RESULTS

The response rate was 72%. All the colleges include foundational and advanced topics in their curriculum. Didactic lectures, clinical cases, self-directed learning assignments and projects, and videos are the most common teaching methods, whereas virtual learning and reading list are the least popular methods. The average staff-to-student ratio for preclinical and clinical training is 1:6 and 1:7, respectively. Eighty-six percent of colleges utilize dedicated endodontic clinics supervised by specialized endodontists. Eighty percent of colleges use simple cases for canal preparation and obturation. Most colleges do not use magnification and ultrasonic instruments. Saline and sodium hypochlorite are preferred irrigation solutions, whereas calcium hydroxide is the preferred inter-visit medicament. Many use MTA as an advanced material, calcium hydroxide as an inter-visit medicament, and provisional restoration after RCT.

CONCLUSION

The content and delivery of the endodontic undergraduate curriculum are primarily uniform. The use of specialist endodontists dedicated endodontic clinics, rotary instruments, and advanced materials have emerged as curricular strengths. However, diversification of teaching strategies, use of magnification instruments, and an increase in the minimum number of endodontically treated teeth are leading areas demanding curricular improvement.

Influence of dental college funding and time established on the satisfaction of dental graduates with their undergraduate experience in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVE

With the emergence of graduates from all government and private-funded dental colleges in Saudi Arabia (SA), it is pressing to explore the graduates' satisfaction with the dental undergraduate education and training they received. The aim of the present study was to investigate the graduates' satisfaction with their education and training according to college funding arrangements (government vs private-funded) and time since establishment (established- >15 years vs new-<15 years).

METHODS

A piloted, electronic questionnaire was emailed to all the members of the Saudi Dental Society who had graduated from government and and private dental colleges in SA (2,185 registrants).

RESULTS

The response rate was 36.4%, with 580 government-funded college graduates (72.9%) and 216 private college graduates (27.1%) having completed and returned the questionnaire. The distribution of participants between established and new colleges was 'established' 396 (49.8%) and 'new' 400 (50.2%). Levels of dissatisfaction were recorded for graduates from established and new, government-funded and private colleges. The levels of dissatisfaction were greater amongst the graduates of established and government-funded colleges.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study indicate concerning levels of dissatisfaction with important aspects of dental education in SA. It is suggested that there is a pressing need for more integration of basic and clinical sciences and an emphasis on hands-on training. National coordination of arrangements for dental curricula could make a major contribution to addressing the problems identified.

A multicentric survey to evaluate preclinical education in Endodontology in German-speaking countries

AIM

To evaluate preclinical education in Endodontology at Austrian, German and Swiss dental schools using an online survey.

METHODOLOGY

An online survey divided into nine categories was sent using SurveyMonkey software to 37 dental schools, before the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire included 50 questions to evaluate preclinical endodontic education, such as faculty-to-student ratios, topics taught and materials used, in preclinical phantom head courses. Seven and 14 days after the first e-mail contact, dental schools received a reminder e-mail. After four and six weeks, the dental schools were contacted by telephone and asked to participate in the online survey. The processing time was eight weeks in total.

RESULTS

The response rate was 89%. Preclinical endodontic education at the participating dental schools differs considerably. Theory classes ranged from 1 to 70 h (15 h mean), and practical classes ranged from 3 to 78 h (39 h mean). The faculty-to-student ratio varied between 1:4 and 1:38 (1:15 mean). Forty-five per cent of the dental schools had a specialist in endodontics teaching theory. Several dental microscopes were available for preclinical teaching purposes at 82% of the dental schools. The majority (82%) taught root canal preparation with rotary or reciprocating NiTi instruments. Overall, 85% of the dental schools taught lateral compaction, amongst other methods, for canal filling.

CONCLUSION

A substantial divergence amongst the dental schools regarding the time dedicated to theory and practical instruction in Endodontology was reported. However, convergence in the use of root canal treatment techniques and materials was reported.

Morphometric evaluation of multirooted artificial teeth used for endodontic training

Abstract Introduction Dental practice professionals encounter several urgency cases, mainly related to endodontic problems. To attend to these, professionals need extensive prior preclinical training, being one of the main difficulties the search for models that simulate dental morphology. Aim To compare the external morphometry of multirooted artificial teeth to literature. Material and method The artificial teeth (Upper First Premolar, Upper First Molar and Lower First Molar) were donated by the manufacturers: Fábrica de Sorrisos (FS) and IM do Brasil LTDA (IM), totaling 30 teeth. The total length of the tooth and root, height and buccal-palatal and mesial-distal dimensions of the crown were measured with a digital pachymeter. The data were placed in a spreadsheet and the statistical analysis was performed [ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis and then, Dunnett's test (α=5%)]. Result The Upper Molar samples of the company Fábrica de Sorrisos presented all variables within the morphometric patterns described in the literature. The other dental groups presented statistically significant differences, maintaining or not a certain proportionality. Conclusion Of all the dental groups analyzed, the upper molar from the company Fábrica de Sorrisos was the only one that presented all the external morphometric aspects according to literature.

Resistance to fracture of extracted teeth used for pre-clinical endodontic procedures: Influence of storage conditions

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this in vitro study was to determine whether different storage conditions used during endodontic procedures affect the fracture resistance of extracted teeth used for pre-clinical dental education.

METHODS

Freshly extracted mandibular incisors and canines were sterilised in an autoclave for 40 minutes at 24°F under a pressure of 20 psi and then stored in distilled water at 4°C until use. Specimens were randomly assigned to two groups based on the storage method used whilst undergoing endodontic procedures. Between endodontic sessions, teeth in the Wet Group (n = 16 incisors; n = 4 canines) were stored in distilled water and teeth in the Dry Group (n = 16 incisors; n = 4 canines) were stored in a dry container. All specimens were kept at room temperature and away from sunlight. Endodontic treatments were performed in 3 sessions over a 3-week period. The specimens were then brought to fracture under compressive forces along the long axis of the tooth in an Instron universal testing machine. The data were analysed using t tests (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

None of the teeth fractured during endodontic procedures. However, the compressive load required to fracture teeth stored under wet conditions was significantly higher than the load needed for teeth stored dry (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Fracture resistance is affected by storage conditions; teeth stored in water have a higher resistance to fracture than teeth that are stored dry. Fracture resistance was, however, not reduced enough to lead to tooth fracture during pre-clinical endodontic procedures.

Avaliação de dentes monorradiculares artificiais utilizados para treinamento endodôntico

Resumo Introdução É desafio do ensino pré-clínico em Endodontia fornecer aos alunos dentes artificiais que reproduzam a morfologia dos dentes humanos. Objetivo Comparar a morfologia interna e externa de dentes artificiais monorradiculares com dados da literatura sobre dentes humanos. Material e método Os dentes artificiais foram doados pelos fabricantes: Fábrica de Sorrisos, empresa A, (n=20), e IM do Brasil Ltda., empresa B, (n=20). Foi realizada mensuração do comprimento total do dente e da raiz, da altura, das dimensões vestibulopalatina e mesiodistal da coroa, com paquímetro digital. A descrição morfológica das raízes, coroas e câmaras pulpares foi realizada. A localização topográfica do forame apical principal foi avaliada após exploração dos canais com instrumento endodôntico tipo K #15 até este atingir visualmente o ápice radicular. Os dados foram dispostos em uma planilha de cálculo e realizou-se a análise estatística [ANOVA e pós-teste de Tukey (α=5%)]. Resultado A amostra de caninos superiores da empresa B apresentou todas as variáveis dentro dos padrões morfométricos descritos na literatura. Em relação às morfologias interna e externa, a amostra de incisivos laterais superiores da empresa A foi a única a apresentar todas as variáveis dentro dos padrões descritos na literatura. Em relação à localização topográfica foraminal, os dentes da empresa A, assim como o canino inferior da empresa B, apresentaram tendência à posição distalizada e centralizada, vindo ao encontro da literatura. Conclusão Nenhum dente artificial estudado apresentou total similaridade morfológica e morfométrica com a literatura analisada, diferindo em pelo menos uma das variáveis, sendo indicada aos fabricantes uma revisão dos seus modelos.