Technical Quality of Root Fillings Performed by Dental Students in Babol Dental School

Introduction: There is substantial evidence that the technical quality of root canal filling has a significant effect on the outcome of root canal treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical quality of root canal fillings performed by dental students. Methods: The records of 325 teeth radiographs, treated by dental students in 2008-2009 in Babol Dental School, were selected and evaluated. For each tooth, three periapical radiographs (before treatment, during operation and at the end of treatment) were examined. Filling length, density and taper, and presence or absence of void was evaluated. Obturations that have proper length, density and taper, without any void are classified as acceptable root canal fillings. The SPSS statistical software and Chi-Square test were used for analysis. Results: Of the 325 radiographs, 72% had good length and 75% had acceptable taper. There were 14.2% low densities, whereas, only 3.32% of teeth have no void. At least 17.8% of teeth had underfilling and 10.2% overfilling. Finally, only 17.5% of teeth showed acceptable filling length, taper and density without any void. There was no significant difference between the 4th and 5th year students and oral hygienist (who studied oral hygiene and now continuing it to dentistry) in root canal filling quality (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Technical quality of root fillings performed by dental students was found to be less than 20%. .It should be revised in the endodontic curriculum requirement to improve their performance