Assessment of performance of 4th year dental students in detection of residual roots on panoramic radiographs of edentulous patients

Introduction: This study sought to assess the performance of 4th year dental students in detection of residual roots on panoramic radiographs of edentulous patients. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 37 fourth-year dental students of School of Dentistry, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences. Ten panoramic radiographs of edentulous patients with residual roots in their alveolar ridge were retrieved from the archives of the Radiology Department and a private clinic. The residual roots were identified by two radiologists, and their diagnoses served as the gold standard. Dental students were then requested to detect and mark the residual roots on panoramic radiographs using Scanora software. The performance score of each student was calculated by the ratio of correct diagnoses to the total number of diagnoses. The mean performance score was analyzed based on gender and grade point average (GPA) of students. Data were analyzed using STATA version 14.0 at 0.05 level of significance. Results: The mean performance score of students was found to be 62.9% (6.9). Male and female students had no significant difference in performance score (P>0.05). Educational status (GPA) and performance score were not correlated (P>0.05). Enostosis and sclerotic socket were the most common differential diagnoses mistaken for residual root by the students. Conclusion: The performance score of 4th year dental students of Qazvin University in detection of residual roots on panoramic radiographs was moderate. The educational curricula should be revised, and further emphasis should be placed on this topic in practical courses.