Teaching of Engine-Driven Root Canal Treatment Globally-A "Questionnaire Based" Study

Area of Science:

• Endodontics
• Dental Education
• Materials Science

Background:

• Root canal therapy teaching varies across dental schools.
• Engine-driven root canal preparation methods are increasingly adopted.
• Standardization of endodontic instrument selection in dental curricula is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify preferred engine-driven endodontic systems in top-ranked dental universities.
• Explore the rationale behind the selection of these systems for dental education.
• Analyze factors influencing instrument choice in endodontic training.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, questionnaire-based study design.
• Online survey distributed to endodontic academicians at 80 leading dental schools (QS rankings 2023).
• Data analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.

Main Results:

• WaveOne Gold and ProTaper Gold are the most frequently used systems.
• Ease of use and safety are primary factors for general courses; evidence-based practice for postgraduate.
• System selection correlates with geographic location, funding, student capabilities, and instructor qualifications.

Conclusions:

• Ease of use, safety, and evidence-based practice are key determinants in selecting endodontic instruments for dental education.
• These factors significantly shape the tools taught to future dentists.
• Further research is needed on clinical outcomes and global instrument diversification in dental schools.