(PR40) Survey Analysis of Endodontic Department Chairs on Teaching File Length Control

Abstract:

Objective: To analyze survey of endodontic department chairs regarding file length control techniques (rubber stopper and file calibration rings) taught in the predoctoral curricula.

Methods: An 8-question survey about file length control techniques was developed and distributed to 57 U.S. dental school endodontic chairs. Descriptive data reviewed included which techniques are taught, is there a primary technique taught, perceived benefits and disadvantages of each technique, plus what technique they learned and when they completed dental school.

Results: Twenty of 57 department chairs completed the survey (35%). Nineteen schools (95%) reported teaching primarily rubber stoppers, while 1 school (5%) taught both techniques. Regarding rubber stopper benefits, 18 schools (90%) reported ‘ease of use’ and ‘consistency if placed properly’, while the benefit for calibration rings was ‘rings etched into file, no movement’ by 9 schools (45%). In terms of disadvantages, for rubber stoppers, 15 (75%) reported ‘instability’ and 12 (60%) reported ‘block ability to visualize chamber’. For calibration rings, the primary reported disadvantage was ‘difficult to visualize’ by 16 schools (80%). All respondents reported learning the rubber stopper technique and all but 1 completed dental school before 2000.

Conclusions: The survey analysis suggests the rubber stopper technique is the predominant method of file length control in predoctoral curricula. Despite stopper instability compared to etched calibration rings, only 1 of 20 responding schools also teaches ring technique. All survey respondents were taught the rubber stopper technique, which might influence their decision to only teach that technique.