(PR61) Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pre-Doctoral Endodontic Graduation Requirements

This study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pre-doctoral endodontic graduation requirements throughout the United States. Data collection consisted of a self-reported survey completed by endodontic department chairs or pre-doctoral endodontic program directors. Survey questions were aimed at assessing the class size, methods of clinical assessment, and how the quality and quantity of the assessments changed over the last four years. Participants ranked the impact of issues affecting their respective programs and provided examples. The data was cross-tabulated and statistically analyzed using a T-test. Overall, no significant changes were observed in the general or endodontic patient population. Although not statistically significant, a trend was observed suggesting that smaller schools ( < 100 students) experienced the most increase (P=.058), while larger schools experienced some decrease (P=.061) in the general patient population. Next, changes in primary methods of competency assessment (i.e., primarily obturated teeth vs. obturated canal counts) were evaluated. In most schools the number of obturated canals changed significantly in 2020 and 2022 (P < .05), while the number of obturated teeth decreased in 2020 (P <.05). When asked about challenges faced by dental schools during and post-pandemic, responders identified a shortage of endodontists willing to teach, dental faculty in general, staff (e.g., dental assistants), and fewer endodontic patients for pre-doctoral students, challenges which have worsened since the beginning of the pandemic and attributed to faculty burnout.