Difficulties Encountered during Transition from Preclinical to Clinical Endodontics among Salman bin Abdul Aziz University Dental Students

BACKGROUND: The quality of academic training can best be analyzed by including the student’s perceptions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the short comings in preclinical endodontic training and also to find out key areas to stress upon for better student understanding and treatment outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 72 structured questionnaires were distributed to the dental students who have already entered or finished clinical endodontic training in 4(th) year after successfully completing the preclinical endodontic course in 3(rd) year. The questions were focused on the list of difficulties encountered during each step of endodontics including patient consideration, access related difficulties, difficulties during working length determination, cleaning and shaping and obturation. The difficulty level for each of the questions was also rated on a scale of 1-3. About 88% of the questionnaires were returned for evaluation. The obtained answers were analyzed generating a data showing the type and level of difficulty. RESULTS: Locating the apical constriction and controlling the length of the master cone has the highest percentage of difficulty among all the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study helped in highlighting key areas of difficulties faced by the students. The training for students in future needs to be amended so that they are better able to manage such difficulties.