# Evaluation of Quality of Record-Keeping and Root Canal Therapy Performed by Two Predoctoral Cohorts

## TL;DR

This study compared the quality of dental records and root canal treatments done by 4th and 5th-year dental students and found no major differences between the two groups.

## Contribution

The study provides a comparative analysis of record-keeping and treatment quality between two predoctoral dental student cohorts.

## Key findings

- Overall record-keeping quality was 72.08%, and treatment quality was 50.57%.
- Record-keeping was better than treatment quality in both student groups.
- Better record-keeping was significantly linked to better treatment outcomes.

## Abstract

Objectives: A retrospective clinical audit was carried out to evaluate and compare the quality of record-keeping (QRK) and quality of root canal therapy (QRCT) performed by 4th-year and 5th-year predoctoral students. Methods: Electronic records and periapical radiographs of 702 root canal treated teeth performed by 4th-year and 5th-year predoctoral students from July 2018 to December 2021 were evaluated in compliance with standard European Society of Endodontology (ESE) and American Association of Endodontists (AAE) guidelines. Associations between the QRK and the QRCT were statistically analysed using the chi-square test (p < 0.05). Results: Overall acceptability of the QRK and the QRCT was 72.08% and 50.57%, respectively. The reference point of working length was the most common criterion not recorded (33.91%). No significant difference was observed in the QRK between 4th-year (76.05%) and 5th-year (69.70%) students (p = 0.226), as well as the QRCT between 4th-year (51.33%) and 5th-year (50.11%) students (p = 0.755). Acceptable root canal fillings were significantly higher in anterior teeth (57.48%) than in posterior teeth (47.54%) (p = 0.015). Satisfactory QRK was significantly associated with satisfactory QRCT (p = 0.046). Conclusions: Both predoctoral cohorts showed no difference in QRK and QRCT. However, QRK was better than QRCT. Comprehensive and accurate record-keeping positively impacted the QRCT.