Endodontic clinical diagnostic, investigatory skills, and decision-making capabilities in treatment strategies among undergraduate students

Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate diagnostic skills and clinical efficacy in endodontics among undergraduate dental students at Narayana Dental College and Hospital, Nellore. Material and Methods: An online questionnaire containing eleven questions about endodontic diagnosis, accurate treatment plan, and hypothetical clinical scenarios was sent to all year 3 rd , 4 th , and interns of undergraduate dental students who were divided into three groups. Results: The data were analyzed descriptively and reported in percentages. In this study, 228 students replied to the questionnaire with a response rate of 73.5%. Overall, 23% of the participants were male. Around 69 (84%) students from the 3 rd year, 68 (84%) students from the 4 th year, and 86 (86%) students from the internship participated in the study. The first three questions were based on the basics of endodontic diagnosis and were given to the students to enhance their confidence levels. It was found that more than 76% of the interns, 53% in their final year, and 56% of 3 rd -year bachelor of dental surgery students responded that electric pulp sensitivity tests were needed to evaluate pulp vitality. Around 66% of the 3 rd year, 77.6% of the final year, and 72.9% of interns considered that pulpal necrosis shows delayed or no response to electric pulp testing. 66.7% of 3 rd -year students, 100% of final-year students, and 91.9% of interns considered that Ellis Class II fracture involves enamel and dentin. Conclusion: The findings observed from the study highlight the need for future research to find the various methods to improve, enhance, and educate the students from the 3 rd year through the final year of the internship. Furthermore, the study focuses on the need for further research, which is crucial in dental education. It informs the development of more effective dental education programs and contributes to improving patient care in the field of endodontics.