Perception of Dental Interns About Intracanal Fracture of Endodontic Instruments in the Central Region of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed the perceptions among dental interns regarding intracanal fracture of endodontic instruments. Methodology: This cross-sectional observational study was performed among 206 dental interns working in Saudi Arabia. A validated questionnaire encompassing 15 close-ended questions was used. The questionnaire consisted of two components: the first component (Section I) gathered demographic details, and the second part (Section II) examined the causes of EFS during root canal treatment. A Pearson’s Chi-square test was applied to determine the association of perceptions of EFS during endodontic procedures between male and female interns. Results: The study findings showed that out of 206 dental interns, 107 (51.9%) were males and 99 (48.1%) were females. The perceptions regarding intracanal instrument fracture revealed that hand files (71 (34.5%)) were less likely to break than rotary files (132 (64.1%)). Around 152 (73.8%) respondents said that stainless steel was the most frequently broken alloy. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between gender and the belief that operator expertise plays a role in preventing instrument fracture. Conclusion: This study concluded that dental interns were aware of factors contributing to file separation during endodontic treatment. They believed fractures were more common in the apical third of posterior teeth, preferred Nickel Titanium for instruments, and thought hand files were less prone to fracture than rotary files.