Prevalence and Technical Quality Assessment of Endodontic Retreatments Performed by Undergraduate Dental Students

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and technical quality of nonsurgical root canal retreatment procedures performed by undergraduate dental students in a university clinical setting. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on endodontic retreatment cases performed between 2019 and 2023 at the clinic of the International Faculty of Dental Medicine in Rabat. The study population included all patients who underwent retreatment during this period. Only complete clinical records with interpretable preoperative and postoperative radiographs were included. Data were extracted from the university clinic’s digital system (MedERP). Radiographic evaluation was performed using DBSWIN oftware 5.14.2. The technical quality of retreatment was assessed on postoperative radiographs according to the European Society of Endodontology (ESE) criteria using the length, density, and seal (LSD) scoring system. Data were analyzed using Jamovi software (version 2.3.21.0). Results: A total of 331 retreatment procedures were identified, of which 259 met the inclusion criteria. The study population was predominantly female (73.4%). The difference in gender was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Maxillary teeth were more frequently retreated (67.6%), and premolars represented most cases (44.8%), suggesting a tendency among students to select teeth with less complex anatomy. Based on the LSD scoring system, 193 out of 259 retreatments (74.5%) were classified as technically satisfactory. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this retrospective study, undergraduate dental students were able to achieve an acceptable level of technical quality in endodontic retreatment procedures. These findings highlight the effectiveness of structured clinical training and supervision in undergraduate dental education.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Dentistry Journal, 2026 · DOI ↗