title: Evaluation of the Factors and Treatment Options of Separated Endodontic Files Among Dentists and Undergraduate Students in Riyadh Area.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Separation of endodontic files during root canal treatment is a common multifactorial problem facing most of dental practitioners both dentists and students that has high impact on treatment and prognosis outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the incidence, factors and treatment options of separated endodontic files among dentists and undergraduate students in Riyadh area.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survery of 35-questionnaire was formulated and e-mailed to all 149 dentists of different dental specialties who are working in different clinical centers in Riyadh area and are attending the 26(th) Saudi Dental Society International Dental Conference in addition to 130 undergraduate students in different dental colleges in Riyadh. Overall, 118 participants of dentists completed the survey, with response rate of 79% and the same number of students with response rate of 90.7%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total of 57.6% dentists' faced separated files problem during root canal preparation, while only 7.6% of students faced this problem. 53% of separated endodontic files (SEF) were hand files, 65% stainless steel files, 81% were small size files most common sizes (#15-20) (p <0.0001). Causes of SEF were root Canal anatomy, in 45%. 66% of SEF occurred in curved canals, 98% were in molars in mesiobuccal and mesiolingual canals, (p <0.0001). 44% of SEF were successfully bypassed, 53% were successfully removed from coronal third of root canal, 42% of SEF successfully removed using ultrasonics under visualization of operating microscope. 73% of retained SEF cases showed good prognosis, (p <0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SEF is a multifactorial clinical problem that must be either removed, by passed to allow complete cleaning, shaping, disinfection, obturation and effective coronal seal.
authors.affiliation: Lecturer, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, Al Farabi Colleges - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Samah Samir
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Pedir
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, Ain Shams University Cairo - Egypt; Professor of endodontic - Restorative Department -Al Farabi Colleges - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Abeer Hashem
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Mahran
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Restorative Dental Sciences, Al Farabi Colleges - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Beshr
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor, Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, Alfarabi Colleges , Riyadh, Saudi Arabia .
authors.forename: Kusai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baroudi
keywords: Broken; Management; Mishaps; Prognosis; Ultrasonic