Endodontics: Dental Undergraduate Students’ Perception of the Speciality

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dental undergraduate students’ perception of the dental speciality Endodontics Material and Methods: Multiple-choice questionnaire was distributed to 82 final year dental undergraduate students and 88 interns. The analysis of data was performed using methods of descriptive analysis. Results: 79.27% of the final year students and 79.55% of interns preferred to pursue Endodontics as a future speciality course. An increase in the understanding of the speciality overall was observed among the interns. Conclusion: The undergraduate dental students were reasonably informed the speciality Endodontics.


INTRODUCTION
The choice of speciality training in Dentistry continues to be a subject of interest. Several studies have explored the various reasons for choice of entering the dental profession, working with patients, desire to help people, commitment to personal and financial gains, self-employment, autonomy being some of the reasons. Current literature pertaining to the students' perceptions of speciality programmes is limited.
Endodontics is specialized branch in the field of Dentistry dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the dental pulp and surrounding tissues. Currently this branch along with Conservative Dentistry forms a part of the curriculum for undergraduate students in India and the Dental Council of India offers a three year postgraduate programme.
The aim of this study was to study the perception of the dental undergraduate students regarding the speciality Endodontics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
A structured questionnaire study survey form consisting of 15 multiple-choice questions was distributed to 82 fourth year undergraduate dental students and 88 interns of A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences, Nitte (Deemed to be University) and their opinion regarding Endodontics as a field of postgraduate specialty was analyzed. The survey was created by the first author subsequent to reviewing the literature available. (Table 1).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The general objective of this study was to assess the perception of undergraduate students regarding the speciality Endodontics. An increase in interest in learning the subject and confidence to diagnose pulpal and periapical lesion was seen in interns which may be attributed to increased exposure to the speciality during their compulsory rotary internship likewise an increase in understanding of the impact of preclinical training on clinical practice was observed.
Students undergo preclinical Conservative Dentistry training in their second year of study whereas Endodontic preclinical exposure is gained in the 4 th year of study.
Decision pertaining to pursuing further studies after obtaining BDS degree or entering workforce is quite tough and of concern for the students. The distribution of the respondents according to the most preferred subbranch of the spciality was aesthetics followed by endodontics and microsurgery for the 4 th year students whereas it was endodontics closely followed by aesthetics for the interns. Endodontics was the most commonly practiced speciality as per the respondents of both year of study followed by Prosthodontics and Orthodontics. 79.27% and 79.55% of 4 th year students and interns respectively responded that they would prefer to pursue Endodontics in their further studies. Second year curriculum offers students training in the simulation or preclinical laboratory, fourth year curriculum provides students with clinical hands-on experience and training in the clinical patient care and in the compulsory internship programme the students have opportunity without classroom teaching under the supervision of faculty members closely with the patients. The interns gain more exposure hence capable to take more apt decisions [10].
Specialization in the field of Dentistry is rewarding and various studies have reported that dental specialists earn a higher income compared to general dentists. The decision to choose dental speciality study as per the final year students mainly due to the high patient inflow and monetary gains whereas the interns responded as an interest in career. As per this study it was seen that the students responded that monetary gain is a main factor as to their choice of this speciality followed by career interest. Some studies have elaborated that students pursue speciality training when educational debt was not a concern whereas in some debt was reported to have very little effect on career choices. The varied responses in different studies may be dependent on the geographic location [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].
The present study can be further elaborated by inclusion of various other parameters such as gender, financial status and increase in sample size.

CONCLUSION
A considerable improvement of knowledge and awareness of conservative and endodontic treatment has been observed among final years and interns. The pain was the most important concern associated with the root canal treatment. There has been a need to reduce the treatment duration by shifting to the rotary endodontics and single visit endodontic treatment amongst general dental practitioners.

CONSENT
As per international standard or university standard, respondents' written consent has been collected and preserved by the author(s).

ETHICAL APPROVAL
As per international standard or university standard written ethical approval has been collected and preserved by the author(s).