Investigating the technical quality of undergraduate endodontic treatment in a primary care-based dental school

Introduction The success of root canal treatment (RCTx) relies on the technical quality of the root canal filling, often assessed through radiographic evaluation. Aims This audit aims to evaluate the technical proficiency of Peninsula Dental School (PDS) undergraduate dental students in RCTx, comparing it with established European standards. Design Conducted as a retrospective study, this evaluation focuses on assessing the technical quality of RCTx performed by undergraduate dental students at PDS across various academic years. Setting PDS, a primary care-based dental school in the UK, serves as the focal point for this evaluation. Materials and methods Reviewed 2021-2022 endodontic cases by supervised undergraduates. Analysed radiographs for obturation, voids and errors based on established benchmarks. Randomly selected unbiased cases, assessing voids, filling proximity, missed canals and canal anatomy preservation. Interventions Comparative analysis of RCTx quality between PDS students and counterparts from other dental schools, exemplified by Dublin Dental University Hospital (DDUH). Results Findings revealed that 62.07% of single-rooted and 60% of multi-rooted teeth treated by PDS students met European standards. Discussion The implications highlight the proficiency of PDS students in RCTx, comparing favourably to DDUH. Conclusion Recommendations emphasise conducting regular educational audits in dental schools to continually enhance RCTx techniques and ensure high-quality clinical teaching.