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Table 1 Distribution of student’s responses to self-confidence questions according to their grades

From: Evaluation of confidence levels of undergraduate dental students in various stages of root canal treatment

Confidence Level During Endodontic Procedures

4th Year (n = 133) Median (25th-75th percentile)

5th Year (n = 130) Median (25th-75th percentile)

p value*

Confidence level during endodontic treatment on an adult patient

   

Maxillary teeth

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

< 0.001

Mandibular teeth

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

0.001**

Confidence level during local anesthesia administration prior to endodontic treatment

   

Patients with systemic diseases

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

< 0.001

Patients without systemic diseases

5.0 (4.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

< 0.001

Confidence level during rubber dam placement

   

Anterior teeth

4.0 (4.0–5.0)

3.0 (2.75-4.0)

< 0.001

Premolar teeth

4.0 (4.0–5.0)

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Molar teeth

4.0 (4.0–5.0)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Confidence level during cavity preparation

   

Anterior teeth

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

0.004**

Premolar teeth

4.0 (4.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

< 0.001

Molar teeth

4.0 (3.0-4.75)

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

0.001

Confidence level during radiographic imaging

   

Anterior teeth

5.0 (4.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

< 0.001

Premolar teeth

4.0 (4.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

0.154

Molar teeth

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

0.244

Confidence level during canal preparation (using hand instruments)

   

Anterior teeth

4.0 (4.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Premolar teeth

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Molar teeth

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

< 0.001

Confidence level during irrigation

   

Anterior teeth

4.5 (4.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Premolar teeth

4.0 (4.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Molar teeth

4.0 (4.0–5.0)

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Confidence level during root canal obturation

   

Anterior teeth

5.0 (4.0–5.0)

4.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Premolar teeth

4.0 (3.25-5.0)

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Molar teeth

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

0.002

Confidence level in cases of existing restorations during endodontic/retreatment procedures

   

Presence of amalgam restoration

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

< 0.001

Presence of composite restoration

4.0 (3.0–5.0)

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Presence of crown

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

< 0.001

Presence of intracanal post

2.5 (1.0–3.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

0.010**

Presence of previous root canal filling

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

0.009

Confidence level during removal of previous root canal filling

   

Anterior teeth

3.0 (3.0–4.0)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

< 0.001

Premolar teeth

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

0.005**

Molar teeth

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

0.943

Confidence level during complications arising during endodontic treatment

   

Inability to localize root canals

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

< 0.001

Perforation

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

0.008**

Blockage of the root canal by debris

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

0.002

Extrusion of irrigation solution beyond the apex

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

0.002**

Instrument fracture

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

0.032**

Overfilled root canal

3.0 (2.0–3.0)

2.0 (1.0–3.0)

< 0.001

Underfilled/short root canal

3.0 (2.0–4.0)

2.0 (2.0–3.0)

0.017

  1. *Mann-Whitney U Test
  2. **Although the median and IQR are identical between grades, the Mann-Whitney U test examines the rank distribution of all observations, allowing subtle differences in data to yield significant results
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