Table 2 Questions on the online survey and student responses frequency and percentages
Q. No. | Question | Responses | Frequency (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gender | Male | 38 (38.4%) |
Female | 61 (61.6%) | ||
2 | Educational level | 4th year | 39 (39.4%) |
5th year | 60 (60.6%) | ||
3 | Which of the following is the most reliable reference point during RCT? | GIC buildup | 4 (4%) |
Adjacent tooth | 2 (2%) | ||
Sound tooth structure | 93 (93.9%) | ||
4 | After you set up your instrumentation, how would you assess the flaring of the canal? | Insert only a spreader 1 mm shorter than the working length (WL) | 31 (31.3%) |
Insert a spreader with a master GP cone 1 mm shorter than the WL | 66 (66.7%) | ||
Insert a spreader with an accessory cone 1 mm shorter than the WL | 1 (1%) | ||
I don’t know | 1 (1%) | ||
5 | How would you label the working length on the gutta-percha (GP)/master apical cone (MAC)? | Indentation on the GP at the determined WL | 33 (33.3%) |
Bending of the GP at the determined WL | 48 (48.5%) | ||
I just hold the GP with tweezers at the WL | 17 (17.2%) | ||
Other | 1 (1%) | ||
6 | During the MAC selection, you feel resistance when you try pushing the cone apically, but you can pull the cone without any resistance. What do you feel at this point? | There is an apical stop but no tug-back | 86 (86.9%) |
There is tug-back but no apical stop | 6 (6.1%) | ||
There is tug-back and an apical stop | 6 (6.1%) | ||
There is no tug-back or apical stop | 1 (1%) | ||
7 | While fitting the GP cone (MAC), you insert the cone to the full working length. What would you do next? | I place a cotton pellet so the GP cone will not move apically | 5 (5.1%) |
I place a cotton pellet so the GP cone will not move coronally | 7 (7.1%) | ||
I push the GP cone apically to check the apical stop | 70 (70.7%) | ||
I pull the GP cone coronally to check the apical stop | 17 (17.2%) | ||
8 | During the fitting of the GP cone (MAC), the cone reaches the full WL, but you do not feel tug-back. What should you do? | Cut the tip of the cone or use a larger cone that reaches the WL with tug-back | 70 (70.7%) |
Re-instrument the canal and create an apical seat to feel the tug-back | 13 (13.1%) | ||
Obturate the canal; no need to feel the tug-back | 13 (13.1%) | ||
I don’t know | 3 (3%) | ||
9 | During the fitting of the GP cone (MAC), the cone is over-extended, and you do not feel an apical stop. What should you do? | Cut the tip of the cone or use a larger cone that reaches the WL with an apical stop | 80 (80.8%) |
Re-instrument the canal and create an apical seat to establish an apical stop | 19 (19.2%) | ||
Obturate the canal; no need to feel the apical stop | 0 | ||
I don’t know | 0 | ||
10 | During the fitting of the GP cone (MAC), the cone is shorter than the WL, but you feel tug-back. What should you do? There is an apical stop but no tug-back | I will check whether the master apical file can reach the full WL | 80 (80.8%) |
I will use a smaller cone so it can reach the full WL | 15 (15.2%) | ||
I will obturate the canal; no need to increase the length | 4 (4%) | ||
I don’t know | 0 |