DIFFICULTIES IN OBTAINING PERIAPICAL RADIOGRAPHS DURING ENDODONTIC THERAPY AMONG DENTAL STUDENTS

Abstract

 This study aimed to investigate the difficulties encountered by undergraduate dental students in obtaining periapical radiographs during endodontic therapy. This was a cross-sectional, observational, and descriptive study conducted with 203 dental students from a higher education institution in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire comprising ten questions, nine objective and one subjective. The data were subjected to descriptive statistical analysis. Performing the radiographic technique was identified as the main difficulty by 80.8% of the participants, while 17.7% reported greater difficulty with radiographic processing. Conventional radiography was considered more difficult by 96.6% of the students and more prone to technical errors by 93.1%. In addition, 91.1% recognized that radiographic errors may compromise diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up, as well as lead to examination repetition. It was concluded that the main difficulties are related to performing the radiographic technique, reinforcing the importance of practical training, supervision, and improvement of radiographic skills during undergraduate dental education.