2017 Volume 33 Issue 3 Pages 177-183
Abstract In basic clinical practice for endodontics, the basic technique is generally mastered using extracted teeth and dental models including the root canal under simulated clinical conditions. The purpose of this study was to develop a new root canal model and jaw system for unbiased and repeated evaluation of the level of root canal filling as the final step of treatment and to consider its effectiveness. In this study, experts in root canal filling clarified the necessary specifications of the root canal model and jaw system to be evaluated and a trial root canal model with jaw system was created. Root canal filling with the trial model was performed by six 4th-year dental students, and their operating techniques and final products were evaluated by several evaluators. The students’ and evaluators’ impressions of the trial model were collected using questionnaires and through discussion sessions, and were considered to reflect the necessary specifications for a root canal model. The created trial model was applied to the lower first premolar for simple evaluation using a #40 file at the tip of the root canal and a 7/100 taper file in the root canal. The tooth root manufactured out of acrylic resin was rectangular in shape to evaluate all orientations, and a scale slit guide was provided to reduce evaluation error.
A dedicated jaw system was designed for prompt assembly with the trial model, which can be replaced with a conventional phantom. The students were able to perform root canal filling within 5 minutes using the technique they had learned and the evaluators could objectively evaluate their technique. Furthermore, because the root canal model can be assembled within seconds, it can be repeatedly used by other students.
