title: Evaluation of dental students' perception and self-confidence levels regarding endodontic treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to obtain information about senior dental students' perceptions and self-confidence levels regarding endodontic practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anonymous survey forms were handed out to senior students at Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry. The students were asked to score their level of confidence using a 5-point scale and comment about future practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate of the survey was 88%. 11.9% expressed endodontics as the first branch in terms of difficulty. The majority (90.5%) indicated they would perform root canal treatments within their expertise limit in the future but refer difficult cases to an endodontist. Bleaching of endodontically treated teeth, managing flare-ups, placement of a rubber dam were procedures in which students reported the lowest confidence (2.55 ± 1.17, 3.24 ± 0.96, 3.24 ± 1.19, respectively). On the other hand, students felt the lowest confidence in the treatment of maxillary molars followed by mandibular molars (3.43 ± 1.02 and 3.93 ± 0.97, respectively). Students also reported the lowest confidence in root resorptions, endo-perio lesions, traumas, retreatments and apexifications (2.93 ± 1.16, 3.07 ± 0.89, 3.24 ± 0.85, 3.33 ± 1.7 and 3.36 ± 1.1, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showing students' lower confidence in more challenging aspects of dentistry may be related with the attitude of dental schools to refer these cases to post graduate students and instilling information about these cases on a theoretical basis only. Though there seems to be a tendency for students to refer challenging cases to a specialist in future, authorities should give priority to enhance the way information and experience is conveyed regarding various aspects of endodontic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Jale
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanalp
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Esra Pamukçu
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Güven
authors.affiliation: Oral and Dental Public Health, Yeditepe University, Faculty of Dentistry, Turkiye.
authors.forename: Inci
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Oktay
keywords: Education; endodontics; self-confidence; students