Bushra Faiz Shoaib , Zainab Al Khawaja, Aldana Al Oteibi, Lamia Asiri, Aysha Al Wasifre, Mariam Al AniziRiyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Aim To identify most challenging aspects of endodontic treatment experienced by dental students in Riyadh Elm University during their dental education program. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted among dental students using questionnaires. The questionnaire included close-ended questions investigating the confidence level of undergraduate students, the specific tasks that they find most challenging. All undergraduate dental students from the levels 8-12 from Riyadh Elm University were included in the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21. Results Of the total 200 respondents, the majority (81%) were females. Over half the participants indicated that the most prominent difficulty while administering anesthesia is related to the inferior alveolar nerve block and while performing the clamp adaptation technique when it comes to placing rubber dam. Two-third reported cavity access to be most difficult when treating posterior teeth. An overwhelming 70% of respondents listed lateral condensation as the most difficult step during root canal filing. The majority reported wanting more information and training related to endodontic treatment. Conclusion This study clearly shows that there are obstacles facing students while performing endodontic treatment. It is worth stressing that majority of the surveyed group indicated needing more training to improve their abilities and increase their confidence when performing endodontic treatment.