First experiences, confidence and quality of undergraduate students’ endodontic treatments using mechanized NiTi instruments

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22456/2177-0018.142880

Keywords:

Endodontics, Education, Dental, Students, Dental, Root canal obturation

Abstract

Objectives: This study describes the experiences, confidence, competence, and quality of endodontic treatments performed by undergraduate students using niquel-titanium instruments for the first time. Methods: a prospective longitudinal study of two cohorts was performed. The evaluation consisted of applying a self-confidence questionnaire and two focal groups, and radiographic parameters of the cases performed by undergraduate students were assessed. Twenty-four students participated in the survey. Results: most of the participants showed confidence or were very confident in the steps of "coronal opening", "working length determination", "chemomechanical preparation", "adaptation of the master cone", and "root canal obturation". About 95% of students had more facility in learning mechanized instrumentation, and 88% felt safer with this method than with manual instrumentation. Around 38% of participants would choose both methods (mechanized and manual instrumentation) for their academic education, 29% would choose the mechanized instrumentation method, and 33% would choose the manual method for their academic education. Regarding the quality of root canal filling, there was a significative difference when evaluating two criteria: apical length and taper of the root canal filling (p<0.05 – Qui-squared test). Conclusions: mechanized instrumentation to perform endodontic treatments were the main factors in increasing the confidence and the quality of the treatments. The student's self-confidence in performing different steps was uniform, and the method of choice that the students had more security and was easier to learn was the mechanized method. Students showed a higher level of competence when performing endodontic treatments using mechanized NiTi instruments for root canal preparation.

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Author Biographies

Maurício Denicol Anastacio

Dental surgeon, general practitioner, and endodontics specialist.

Leonardo Thomasi Jahnke, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Ph.D. candidate in the Graduate Program in Dentistry at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Master’s degree from the Graduate Program in Dentistry at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), with an emphasis on Endodontics. Specialist in Endodontics from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS). Bachelor’s degree in Dentistry from the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM).

Camila Hélen Grock, Dental Institute of the Americas

Bachelor’s degree in Dentistry from the University of Vale do Itajaí (UNIVALI—2012); Specialist in Endodontics from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2015); Master’s degree in Dental Sciences with a focus on Endodontics from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS—2016), Ph.D. in Dental Sciences with an emphasis on Endodontics from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS, 2019). She is currently a professor and coordinator of the Specialization and Continuing Education courses in Endodontics at the Dental Institute of the Americas (IOA-Chapecó). She is also a professor for the continuing education courses in Endodontics at Elite-Uningá (Erechim, RS) and a professor for the Specialization courses in Endodontics at ODONTOPÓS (Porto Alegre, RS).

Pedro Henrique Marks Duarte, CESUCA University Center

Dental surgeon, graduate of the School of Dentistry at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Specialist in endodontics from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul; holds a master’s and doctoral degree in Clinical Dentistry/Endodontics from the School of Dentistry at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. He serves as an undergraduate professor in the field of endodontics at CESUCA University Center.

Gabriel Barcelos Só

Dental Surgeon, graduated from the School of Dentistry at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) in 2018/2. Specialist in Endodontics from the Bauru School of Dentistry at the University of São Paulo (FOB-USP); holds a Master’s and Doctorate in Dental Clinic with an emphasis on Endodontics from the School of Dentistry at UFRGS. Professor of Endodontics at the Federal University of Santa Maria and permanent member of the Graduate Program in Dental Sciences at UFSM.

Angela Longo do Nascimento, Brazilian Air Force

He holds a bachelor’s degree in dentistry from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2012), a master’s degree in dentistry from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2015), and a doctorate in dentistry from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (2020). He is currently a dental officer in the Brazilian Air Force.

Ricardo Abreu da Rosa, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Assistant Professor I at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul.

Marcus Vinícius Reis Só, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

Assistant Professor III at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul

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Published

2026-09-09

How to Cite

Denicol Anastacio , M., Thomasi Jahnke, L., Hélen Grock, C., Marks Duarte, P. H., Barcelos Só, G., Longo do Nascimento, A., … Vinícius Reis Só, M. (2026). First experiences, confidence and quality of undergraduate students’ endodontic treatments using mechanized NiTi instruments. Revista Da Faculdade De Odontologia De Porto Alegre, 67. https://doi.org/10.22456/2177-0018.142880

Issue

Vol. 67 (2026): Revista da Faculdade de Odontologia de Porto Alegre

Section

Original articles

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Copyright (c) 2026 Maurício Denicol Anastacio , Leonardo Thomasi Jahnke, Camila Hélen Grock, Pedro Henrique Marks Duarte, Gabriel Barcelos Só, Angela Longo do Nascimento, Ricardo Abreu da Rosa, Marcus Vinícius Reis Só

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