Root canal filling of endodontically treated teeth by dentistry students in clinical offices from 1996 to 1998--radiological results.
THE PURPOSE of our study was to evaluate radiologically the degree of root canal filling of teeth treated by students.


METHODS
724 segment radiographs with an overall number of 1142 canals were examined. The level of root canal filling was measured from the radiographic apex. The objects of the study were divided into three groups: 1. canals filled to more than 2 mm from the apex; 2. canals filled up to 2 mm from the apex; 3. canals filled to the radiographic apex; 4. overfilled canals. The objects from the second and the third group were combined as a group of successfully filled canals.


RESULTS
The results showed 62.90% of successfully filled canals, 27.80% of the canals were filled more than 2 mm from the radiological apex and 9.30% - with overfilling. The greatest percentage of canals filled more than 2 mm from the apex refers to the mesial and vestibular canals of the molars, and after them the most frequently obturated canals are those of single-root teeth (57.94%).


CONCLUSIONS
The results obtained allow us to estimate the endodontic treatment of the students as good. The greatest difficulties are encountered in filling the vestibular and mesial canals of the molars.
Markova
K B
KB
Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Higher Medical Institute, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Dakov
K V
KV
Stoikova
M S
MS
D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013335:Students, Dental; D019553:Tooth, Nonvital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016896:Treatment Outcome