Influence of Preclinical Training on Root Canal Treatment Technical Quality and Confidence Level of Undergraduate Dental Students

Table 3

Self-evaluated level of confidence in performing different stages of root canal treatment among elective course attendees (A) and non-attendees (NA).

Perceived level of confidence	Very confident		Confident		Neutral		Little confidence		Very little confidence		-value
	A (%)	NA (%)	A (%)	NA (%)	A (%)	NA (%)	A (%)	NA (%)	A (%)	NA (%)
Endodontic diagnosis	60.8	63.6	34.7	36.3	4.5	0	4.3	0	0	0	1.00
Patient referral for complicated cases	39.1	50	43.4	45.4	17.3	0	4.3	4.5	0	0	0.166
Providing adequate anesthesia	39.1	45.4	34.7	45.4	21.7	4.5	0	4.5	0	0	0.413
Rubber dam placement	60.8	63.6	34.7	31.8	0	4.5	4.3	0	0	0	1.00
Access cavity preparation	30.4	45.4	43.4	31.8	17.3	22.7	0	0	0	0	0.627
Finding all canals in multi-rooted teeth	0	4.5	47.8	36.3	34.7	22.7	4.3	36.3	0	0	0.301
Determining working length	30.4	27.2	65.2	54.5	4.5	18.1	17.3	0	0	0	0.423
Cleaning and shaping root canal system	26	50	56.5	39.1	17.3	9	0	0	0	0	0.275
Selecting proper irrigant and irrigation technique	43.4	45.4	43.4	45.4	13	9	8.6	0	0	0	1.00
Placing an inter-appointment dressing	34.7	54.5	52.1	22.7	8.6	13.6	0	9	0	0	0.242
Inter-appointment flare-ups management	4.3	18.1	39.1	30.4	39.1	27.2	4.3	22.7	0	0	0.489
Root canal system obturation	13	36.3	73.9	40.9	13	18.1	17.3	4.5	0	0	0.094
Taking radiographs	52.1	59	34.7	27.2	13	9	4.3	4.5	0	0	0.870
Interpreting radiographs	47.8	54.5	43.4	31.8	8.6	13.6	0	0	0	0	0.693
Giving postoperative instructions	52.1	72.7	43.4	13.6	4.3	13.6	0	0	0	0	0.066
Assessing quality of a root filling postoperatively	60.8	68.1	34.7	18.1	4.3	13.6	0	0	0	0	0.299
Determining correct recall period for patient	39.1	50	39.1	31.8	13	13.6	0	4.5	0	0	0.903
Performing non-surgical root canal retreatment	39.1	36.3	47.8	40.9	8.6	13.6	0	4.5	0	4.5	0.935