Journal of Education and Ethics in Dentistry

LETTER TO EDITOR
Year
: 2015  |  Volume : 5  |  Issue : 1  |  Page : 35-

Endodontics for undergraduate dental students: How to enhance their abilities?


Parisa Soltani 
 Department of Dental Students Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Correspondence Address:
Parisa Soltani
Department of Dental Students Research Center, School of Dentistry, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Hezar-Jerib Street, Isfahan
Iran




How to cite this article:
Soltani P. Endodontics for undergraduate dental students: How to enhance their abilities?.J Educ Ethics Dent 2015;5:35-35


How to cite this URL:
Soltani P. Endodontics for undergraduate dental students: How to enhance their abilities?. J Educ Ethics Dent [serial online] 2015 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];5:35-35
Available from: https://www.jeed.in/text.asp?2015/5/1/35/178035


Full Text

Dear Sir,

The study entitled "attitude and perception of undergraduate dental students toward endodontics as a specialty in India" published in Vol. 4, Issue 1 of Journal of Education and Ethics in Dentistry provides valuable information regarding how dental students feel towards endodontics as a specialty. The present letter provides some recommendations for clinical skill learning methodology in endodontics.

Most dental schools focus on simple and uncomplicated endodontic treatment in their curriculum for undergraduate students. However, current stream in biomaterial science and regeneration techniques that is intertwined with modern endodontics is often neglected. Therefore, for most dental students endodontics is equal to root canal treatment. Educating the students regarding novel techniques and treatment modalities may attract their attention to endodontics as a progressing field in dental science.

Moreover, students may perform well in root canal treatment of extracted teeth in their hands, but in the oral cavity visibility, access, isolation, and other clinical issues can make endodontic treatment a challenge for unprepared dental students. [1] Therefore, a smooth transition from preclinical courses to clinical treatments may be important. Human extracted teeth mounted on head-phantoms may be a suitable choice for this "smooth transition." [2]

Another important point is endodontic diagnosis. As different treatment modalities are available for different pulp and periapical pathoses, students must be able to clinically judge and plan the treatment for different cases encountered. Case presentation sessions during the preclinical and clinical endodontic courses may enable dental students to diagnose endodontic problems and offer suitable treatment planning. [3]

In conclusion, it should be kept in mind that endodontic courses must enable dental students to properly diagnose pulp and periapical diseases and perform routine endodontic treatments in the community. Thus, as the authors of the above-mentioned article state, preclinical endodontic training, and clinical training for management of all pulpal and periapical lesions with different modalities at the undergraduate level should be emphasized.

References

1Seijo MO, Ferreira EF, Ribeiro Sobrinho AP, Paiva SM, Martins RC. Learning experience in endodontics: Brazilian students′ perceptions. J Dent Educ 2013;77:648-55.
2Suvinen TI, Messer LB, Franco E. Clinical simulation in teaching preclinical dentistry. Eur J Dent Educ 1998;2:25-32.
3Pileggi R, Glickman GN. A cost-effective simulation curriculum for preclinical endodontics. Eur J Dent Educ 2004;8:12-7.