ABSTRACT
Over the past decade, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been increasingly used by endodontists. The aims of this study were to assess endodontic program directors', residents', and endodontists' considerations concerning CBCT-related graduate education, attitudes, and professional behavior. Survey data were collected from 31 of the 56 directors of U.S. endodontic graduate programs, 73 of 270 contacted residents, and 689 of 2,221 contacted endodontists (response rates 55%, 27%, and 31%, respectively). Ten of the 31 responding programs did not offer a CBCT-related class. Of the 21 programs that offered a CBCT class, 91% of the program directors and 85% of the residents agreed strongly that future endodontists need training to be able to use CBCT. Residents were less satisfied than directors with the way CBCT was taught (on a five-point scale with 1=most negative: 3.26 vs. 4.37; p<0.001) and the quality of their clinical CBCT-related education (3.75 vs. 4.62; p<0.001). Both groups strongly agreed that there is a need for CBCT training in endodontics (4.81 vs. 4.90). Endodontists reported being less well educated than residents about CBCT in classroom-based (2.02 vs. 2.70; p<0.001) and clinical graduate education settings (2.09 vs. 2.97; p<0.001) and wanted more CBCT-related education in endodontic programs (4.37 vs. 3.18; p<0.001). Yet, they reported being more confident than residents in interpreting CBCT scans (3.57 vs. 2.75; p<0.001) and rated themselves more positively as having sufficient clinical experience (3.76 vs. 2.92; p<0.001) to be competent in utilizing CBCT. These findings about residents' and practicing endodontists' CBCT-related considerations suggest that endodontic program directors should add more CBCT-related education.
