Clinical and radiographic evaluation of root canal treatments performed by undergraduate students
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: To clinically and radiographically evaluate the success of root canal treatments performed by undergraduate students in the period between 2019 and 2021. 65 patients were evaluated performing follow-up consultations at a minimum period of 1 year after the root canal treatment was concluded. In the follow-up consultations, clinical and radiographic examinations were performed in which the presence of fistula, edema, painful symptomatology, tooth functionality, and coronary conditions were evaluated. In addition, the initial, post-treatment, and follow-up radiographs were digitalized and analyzed by two examiners. The radiographic follow-up criteria were classified in three categories: complete healing, incomplete healing, and treatment failure. For statistical data, logistic regression was used to assess the correlation of variables with treatment success, with a significance level at P < 0.05. Of the cases evaluated, 11.6% failed. Follow-up times ranged from 1 to 3 years. Of the clinical signs and symptoms, pain was most often present (28%), followed by fistula, and tooth loosening (3% each). Multivariate logistic regression identified only five significant variables for treatment success: female gender, absence of periodontal ligament thickening, absence of lesion, absence of pain, and definitive restoration. The failure rate for root canal treatments performed by graduate students was low, but a longer follow-up period is necessary to accompany cases involving incomplete healing.
Institution: Universidade Federal do Ceará
Language: English
Subfield: Oral Surgery
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410269154