Page 164 - FINAL COMPENDIUM 2020-2021 27.2.2022

THE OUTCOME AND TECHNICAL QUALITY OF ROOT CANAL TREATMENT PERFORMED BY
UNDERGRADUATES IN SCHOOL OF DENTAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA: A
CLINICAL AUDIT

Meyyappan D, Tan L
Introduction: Root canal treatment (RCT) requires high level of technical skills of the
clinician. Its outcome is an important part of evidence based practice and become the
basis of treatment planning and prognostic considerations. Problem statement: Previous
studies reported a low quality of RCT performed by undergraduate dental student which
reflect the education and training they received along the undergraduate program. The
technical quality of RCT may impact on the treatment outcome. Objectives: To evaluate
the outcome and technical quality of RCT performed by undergraduate dental student,
School of Dental Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Materials and
methods: All RCT patients performed by fourth year and final year undergraduate dental
students in year 2015 to 2019 were included as sample recruitment. 171 Patient’s record
was reviewed and 214 RCT treated teeth that meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria
was included as samples in the study. Both digital and conventional periapical radiographs
of all samples were assessed. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. The treatment
outcome was classified into healed, healing and non-healed based on the clinical and
radiographic assessment. The technical quality was categorised as acceptable and
unacceptable based on radiographic obturation length and density, and incident of
procedural error. Results: Out of total samples, 55.6% of patients were females and the
age range of patients varied from 16 to 65 years, 65.9% were maxillary and 34.1% were
mandibular comprising 54.7% anteriors, 13.6% premolars and 31.7% molars. Overall
treatment outcome was 40.2% healed, 58.4% healing, and 1.4% non-healed. The overall
acceptable quality was 74.8% compromising of 70.6% acceptable quality of Step Back
technique and 29.4% acceptable quality of crown down technique. Conclusion: RCT
performed by the student in this institution presented with significantly higher healing
outcome compared to healed outcome and significantly minimal of non-healed RCT cases
was found. The acceptable technical quality of RCT was significantly higher in the Step
Back compared to Crown Down technique.

Dr Darshayani Meyyappan
Unit Kepakaran Ortodontik
Pusat Pakar Pergigian Seremban
Ministry of Health, Malaysia

Dr Lawrence Tan Soon Lee

Unit Kepakaran Ortodontik
Klinik Pergigian Jalan Gambut
Kuantan, Pahang
Ministry of Health, Malaysia

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