title: Technical quality of root fillings performed by undergraduate students: a radiographic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiographic technical quality of endodontic treatment performed by undergraduate students at the School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Serbia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic records of 220 patients treated by final-year undergraduate students during the school year 2011/2012 were examined, and the final sample consisted of 212 patients, 322 teeth, and 565 root canals. The criteria for overall radiographic adequacy of root canal fillings were defined as the presence of adequate length and density and absence of iatrogenic errors (ledge, fractured instrument, untreated canal, and apical transportation). Chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance between different parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adequate root canal fillings were found in 74.22% of the teeth. The percentage of root fillings with adequate length and density was 89.73% and 92.6%, respectively. Fractured instruments and ledges were present in 16 root canals (2.8%), while the presence of missed canal and apical transportation was observed in 2 cases, each (0.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overall, the technical quality of root canal fillings performed by undergraduate students was satisfactory.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0213-3240
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vukadinov
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia ; Department of Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics, Clinic of Dentistry of Vojvodina, Hajduk Veljkova 12, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Larisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blažić
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kantardžić
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Hajduk Veljkova 3, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
authors.forename: Tijana
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5149-478X
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lainović
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D004708:Endodontics / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011859:Radiography; D012390:Root Canal Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D055771:Serbia; D013335:Students, Dental