Technical Quality of Root Fillings Performed by Undergraduate Dental Students in Single-Canal Teeth: A 10-Year Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective

This study assessed the radiographic technical quality of root fillings in single-canal teeth performed over a decade (June 2013 to June 2023) by undergraduate dental students of the Federal University of Campina Grande.

Methods

All teeth underwent chemomechanical preparation using Gates-Glidden drills and hand instrumentation with stainless steel files up to 1 mm short of the root apex. Apical expansion was performed with up to two or three instruments above the initial anatomical apical diameter. The canal was filled in the absence of signs and symptoms of infection using gutta-percha cones and Sealer 26 or MTA Fillapex. A post-filling radiograph was routinely taken to assess the quality of root filling and coronal restoration. An experienced researcher trained and calibrated an examiner to evaluate post-operative periapical radiographs considering root-filling length, lateral adaptation and taper using ImageJ 1.52q software. Root filling was satisfactory when reaching acceptable classifications for the three parameters. The chi-squared test compared tooth type, dental arch and pulpal diagnosis at a 5% significance level.

Results

The study assessed 124 canals, showing 90 (72.6%) satisfactory root fillings. The sub-analysis of individual parameters demonstrated that 105 (84.7%) root fillings had acceptable length, 113 (91.1%) adapted well to lateral canal walls, and 109 (87.9%) had proper taper. Most cases occurred in maxillary teeth (n = 99), pulp necrosis was the most frequent pulpal diagnosis (n = 89), and root-filling quality showed no association with tooth type, dental arch or pulpal diagnosis.

Conclusion

The technical quality of root fillings in single-canal teeth treated by dental students was predominantly satisfactory.