CURRENT STATUS OF EDUCATION ABOUT ENDODONTIC TREATMENT WITH NICKEL-TITANIUM FILES IN JAPANESE UNIVERSITIES WITH DENTAL SCHOOLS

Abstract

Currently, the NiTi rotary file is recognized as an important instrument in endodontics because of its various advantages. The reason why dentists do not adopt NiTi rotary files in their clinical practices may be due to a lack of education and experience with NiTi rotary files. Therefore, a survey of the current status of education about endodontics and NiTi rotary files was conducted in Japan. Questionnaires were sent to the endodontic departments of 29 Japanese universities with dental schools. The response rate to the questionnaire was 93.1% (27/29). Preclinical lectures time was more than twice as long as in other countries with regard to endodontics, and preclinical practices was about the same or longer. The staff-student ratio averaged 1:9.8, similar to other countries. These results suggest that Japan places more emphasis on endodontic education than other countries. In terms of NiTi rotary file education, preclinical lectures on NiTi rotary files were given at most universities, and preclinical practices was also provided in the majority of universities (20/23). This was because NiTi rotary files were used in clinical practices at all but one university, and the purpose was to smooth the transition to clinical education by creating an environment in which students could use NiTi rotary files during their preclinical practices. However, only 11.1% of the universities allowed students to use NiTi rotary files on patients during clinical education. We believe that more opportunities should be provided for students to use NiTi rotary files in clinical education. In doing so, staff should select cases using the endodontic case difficulty assessment form published by the American Association of Endodontists to prevent errors during root canal formation.