Effect of different instrumentation techniques on students’ performance and outcomes of nonsurgical root canal treatment

Objectives This study compared, retrospectively, the incidence of clinical errors and effects on treatment outcomes, when students were exposed to two different instrumentation techniques: a hybrid rotary technique (HYB), consisting of both hand instrumentation with hand stainless steel and Ni‐Ti files plus the use of a rotary system (Vortex Blue, Dentsply Sirona), versus a full reciprocation instrumentation technique (WaveOne Gold [WOG], Dentsply Sirona). Methods A total of 368 endodontic cases (n = 184) in anterior and premolar teeth, completed by dental students at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry from 2013 to 2022, were used for the study. The groups were evaluated by two calibrated clinicians, observing the incidence of clinical errors: file separations, over‐instrumentation, ledges and transportations. Treatment outcomes were also observed. Data were analyzed statistically by Fisher's exact test and Mann–Whitney U test (p