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Published on: May 24, 2022
Preparation time and perceptions of Brazilian specialists and dental students regarding simulated root canals for
Diandra dos S Luz1, Fernanda de S Ourique1, Roberta K Scarparo1
1Dr. Luz is a dentist in private practice, Porto Alegre, Brazil; this study was conducted while she was a student at the School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Dr. Ourique is a dentist in private practice, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Dr. Scarparo is Adjunct Professor, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Dr. Vier-Pelisser is Adjunct Professor, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Dr. Morgental is Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Dr. Waltrick is Postdoctoral Scholar, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; and Dr. Figueiredo is Adjunct Professor, Department of Endodontics and Chair, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Abstract:
The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate the desirability of alternative models of artificial teeth versus extracted natural teeth for use in preclinical dental education. Specifically, the study was designed to compare the preparation time and perceptions of difficulty of undergraduate dental students and endodontists in carrying out root canal preparations on resin models (both clear and opaque) and extracted natural teeth. Twenty participants-ten fifth-year students at a Brazilian dental school and ten endodontists with at least five years' experience in the specialty-performed root canal instrumentation on two samples of each model. Preparation times were recorded, and the participants completed a questionnaire about the anatomical and physical characteristics of these models. The results showed that the time required for performing endodontic procedures in the natural teeth was higher than in the alternative models. The perceptions of the students and specialists regarding some topics on the questionnaire were significantly different. The students had more positive opinions about artificial teeth made of opaque resin, while the specialists had more positive opinions about simulated root canals in clear resin blocks. This study suggests that neither of the alternative models fulfilled requirements to replace natural teeth in endodontic teaching; improvements are still necessary to accomplish this goal.
