Endodontic access cavities: Fears and difficulties of Moroccan dental students related to teachers, self-confidence and technical protocol

Abstract

Fears and difficulties of Moroccan dental students regarding endodontic access cavity were evaluated among 3 items: (i) teachers, (ii) student confidence and (iii) access cavity protocol. A three Likert scale was used to rate 24 statements. Specific scores between 1 and 3 and mean scores between 0 and 1 were used to assess statements and items, respectively. Among 116 students, the mean score of difficulty related to teachers (0.48 ± 0.14) was significantly low (p < 0.001) compared to student confidence (0.69 ± 0.12) and cavity protocol (0.68 ± 0.08). The number of teachers was esteemed insufficient, additional training sessions were requested and maxillary teeth and molars were rated the most difficult with specific scores of 1.91 ± 0.80, 2.72 ± 0.61, 2.22 ± 0.67 and 2.47 ± 0.74, respectively. The highest specific score referred to the risk of making ledges (2.8 ± 0.56) or perforations (2.76 ± 0.59). Students expressed a lack of confidence, difficulty with upper molars and fears of making procedural errors.