(PR07) Accuracy of Endodontic Diagnosis Amongst D2, D3, and D4 Undergraduate Students, Post-Graduate Endodontic Students, General Dentists, and Endodontists

In endodontics, accurate diagnosis is integral to correctly identifying a diseased tooth and rendering proper treatment. Previous studies in medicine and dentistry identified a decrease in diagnostic accuracy among general practitioners compared to senior students and specialists. We conducted a cross-sectional assessment of endodontic diagnosis accuracy amongst 2nd-year dental students (D2), 3rd-year dental students (D3), 4th-year dental students (D4), general dentists (GD), postgraduate endodontic students (PG), and endodontists. Our study included 20 D2s, 64 D3s, 62 D4s, 21 PGs, 20 GDs, and 11 endodontists. All participants reviewed five videos mimicking endodontic consultations and completed an online multiple-choice questionnaire. A diagnostic score was generated and expressed as the percentage of the five cases answered correctly: 16% for D2, 35% for D3, 43% for D4, 85% for PG, 61% for general dentists, and 80% for endodontists. ANOVA analysis comparing total scores between groups showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). In addition, pairwise comparisons using t-tests with Bonferroni correction were performed. The PG group had the highest diagnostic score of all groups, however not statistically significantly better (p >0.05) than endodontists. Under the conditions of this study the GD group accurately diagnosed less than two-thirds of all endodontic cases and were not significantly better (p >0.05) than D4s. The PG group had significantly higher accuracy than the GD group (p < 0.05). This data suggests a need for continuing education more focused on endodontic diagnosis and the need to revisit endodontic diagnosis terms learned during dental school training.