Changes in the Difficulty of Endodontic Cases Treated by Undergraduate Students at a University Clinic Between 1971 and 2019.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the proportions of complicated endodontic cases treated by undergraduate dental students in a University clinic now and in the past.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Data were obtained from the electronic records and previous publications from the Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway. The operators were dental undergraduate students in their final 2 years of training. Proportions of tooth types, diagnosis, and retreatments were studied.

RESULTS

The amount of endodontically treated molars increased from 18% in 1971% to 44% in 2019. The number of teeth with preoperative apical periodontitis increased from 31% to 46%, and retreatments from 9% to 15%. The changes were highly significant, with the greatest change occurring from 1984 to 2009.

CONCLUSION

Undergraduate students are exposed to more complicated teeth now than 50 years ago.