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Uncertainty in Relation to Clinical Experience—A Qualitative Study on Dental Students' Reflections on Risk Assessment of Root Filled Teeth

Brodén, Joséphine ; Pigg, Maria ; Vareman, Niklas LU orcid and Fransson, Helena (2025) In International Endodontic Journal
Abstract
Aim: In uncertain clinical situations, such as assessing the risk of exacerbation of apical periodontitis in root-­ filled teeth, un-
dergraduate students can benefit from being trained to reflect. This study aimed to explore how students specifically reflected
on clinical experiences in relation to uncertainty when assessing a case involving a root-­ filled tooth with apical periodontitis.
Methodology: Short reflections were written by 52 dental students at Malmö University in 2021. All students were asked to
reflect on the risk for exacerbation of apical periodontitis in a case with a root-­ filled tooth with a diffuse widening of the perio-
dontal ligament space. The reflections were written according to prompts... (More)
Aim: In uncertain clinical situations, such as assessing the risk of exacerbation of apical periodontitis in root-­ filled teeth, un-
dergraduate students can benefit from being trained to reflect. This study aimed to explore how students specifically reflected
on clinical experiences in relation to uncertainty when assessing a case involving a root-­ filled tooth with apical periodontitis.
Methodology: Short reflections were written by 52 dental students at Malmö University in 2021. All students were asked to
reflect on the risk for exacerbation of apical periodontitis in a case with a root-­ filled tooth with a diffuse widening of the perio-
dontal ligament space. The reflections were written according to prompts developed to stimulate reflection. For each student, the
reflections were analysed by a qualitative method, Systematic Text Condensation (STC).
Results: The analysis of the qualitative data resulted in the formulation of two themes about experience and lack of experience:
Theme 1 ‘The meaning of clinical experience’ and Theme 2 ‘Differences and similarities’. The themes were subdivided into nine
subgroups and described the relationship between experience and certainty.
Conclusions: The students believed that certainty comes with experience even when there is a lack of scientific evidence. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
[clinical] decision-­ making, dental education, endodontics, periapical periodontitis, uncertainty
in
International Endodontic Journal
pages
9 pages
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105018334404
ISSN
1365-2591
DOI
10.1111/iej.70047
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
555bddca-efe7-4794-b74e-9e6ec4129f34
date added to LUP
2025-11-03 15:17:29
date last changed
2025-11-04 04:00:44
@article{555bddca-efe7-4794-b74e-9e6ec4129f34,
  abstract     = {{Aim: In uncertain clinical situations, such as assessing the risk of exacerbation of apical periodontitis in root-­ filled teeth, un-<br/>dergraduate students can benefit from being trained to reflect. This study aimed to explore how students specifically reflected<br/>on clinical experiences in relation to uncertainty when assessing a case involving a root-­ filled tooth with apical periodontitis.<br/>Methodology: Short reflections were written by 52 dental students at Malmö University in 2021. All students were asked to<br/>reflect on the risk for exacerbation of apical periodontitis in a case with a root-­ filled tooth with a diffuse widening of the perio-<br/>dontal ligament space. The reflections were written according to prompts developed to stimulate reflection. For each student, the<br/>reflections were analysed by a qualitative method, Systematic Text Condensation (STC).<br/>Results: The analysis of the qualitative data resulted in the formulation of two themes about experience and lack of experience:<br/>Theme 1 ‘The meaning of clinical experience’ and Theme 2 ‘Differences and similarities’. The themes were subdivided into nine<br/>subgroups and described the relationship between experience and certainty.<br/>Conclusions: The students believed that certainty comes with experience even when there is a lack of scientific evidence.}},
  author       = {{Brodén, Joséphine and Pigg, Maria and Vareman, Niklas and Fransson, Helena}},
  issn         = {{1365-2591}},
  keywords     = {{[clinical] decision-­ making; dental education; endodontics; periapical periodontitis; uncertainty}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{International Endodontic Journal}},
  title        = {{Uncertainty in Relation to Clinical Experience—A Qualitative Study on Dental Students' Reflections on Risk Assessment of Root Filled Teeth}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/iej.70047}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/iej.70047}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}