Dental students' self-confidence toward endodontics according to educational stages: a longitudinal study

Background

The self-confidence levels of undergraduate dental students regarding the steps of endodontic treatment and the types of teeth treated were evaluated to longitudinally assess changes across different stages of their education within the same student cohort.

Methods

This longitudinal cohort study included 98 undergraduate students from the Faculty of Dentistry at Uşak University, who were prospectively followed across three consecutive educational stages: preclinical training, an endodontic observation internship, and an endodontic practice internship, from 2023 to 2025. At each stage, students rated their self-confidence regarding specific endodontic procedures and tooth types using a Likert scale. Data were analyzed using the Friedman test, with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results

Overall, students’ self-confidence demonstrated a procedure-dependent pattern across educational stages. Significant increases were observed in preparatory procedures, including anamnesis, diagnosis, and dental anesthesia, as well as in several clinical procedures, such as working length determination, canal shaping, irrigation, root canal filling, and permanent restoration. In contrast, decreased confidence was noted in rubber dam application, flare-up management, and bleaching procedures. Regarding tooth type, students showed increased confidence in maxillary anterior, mandibular anterior, and premolar teeth, whereas confidence decreased in maxillary and mandibular molars.

Conclusion

Dental students’ self-confidence in performing endodontic procedures changes gradually from the preclinical stage to clinical practice. While educational progression enhances confidence in many procedures and tooth types, confidence tends to decline in more complex clinical situations, particularly in molar endodontics and complication management.