Confidence Level and Experience of Undergraduate Students Toward Root Canal Preparation using Rotary versus Manual Root Canal Instrumentation

Abstract

Background: The assessment of experience, difficulties encountered, and comparison of root canal preparation using manual versus rotary technique among undergraduate students is needed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the perception of undergraduate dental students' first-time experience using Nickel–Titanium rotary instruments for root canal treatment. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 26 final year undergraduate dental students of batch 15 (2014–2015) from the University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sudan. A self-administered questionnaire composed of two parts; in the first part the questions were relating to the students' confidence levels and experience of clinical root canal treatment using both rotary and manual instruments, while the second part focused on the comparison between rotary and manual instrumentation; difficulties encountered, complications, and preferences. The Chi-square test was used for comparison between different variables with the level of statistical significance set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The majority (80.8%) had a satisfactory first-time experience when using rotary instruments in the root canal treatment of their patients. When using rotary, 26.7% of students experienced separated instruments, and 30% experienced over-preparation. However, the most common complications arising with the use of a manual instrument was ledge formation (23.4%). The most common canal in which separation of instruments occurred was the mesiobuccal canal of molar teeth with percentages of 72.7% for rotary and 52.9% for manual. The most commonly separated rotary file was S1 Protaper (77.8%). Conclusion: The majority of the undergraduate students had a satisfactory experience when using rotary instruments for root canal treatment. A high prevalence of complications was associated with the use of either rotary or manual technique. The most common complication was the separation of the instrument in the mesiobuccal canal of molar teeth.