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General discussion1157Comprehensive interpretation of findings Extent of undergraduate education in EndodontologyAt the end of their undergraduate dental education, students should be competent to perform indirect and direct pulp capping, and uncomplicated root canal treatments in both anterior and posterior teeth. This, in a nutshell, is what the European Society of Endodontology (ESE) states in their Undergraduate Curriculum Guidelines for Endodontology (ESE 2013). According to these guidelines, there is no need for the undergraduate education to accomplish that students reach the level of ‘be competent at’ for each and every competency within the field of Endodontology. The Association of Dental Education in Europe (ADEE) recommends in their Undergraduate Curriculum Framework that the Undergraduate Curriculum Guidelines for Endodontology of the ESE should be followed (Field et al. 2017). Raamplan Mondzorg 2020 is the latest Dutch undergraduate curriculum framework for the education of dentists and dental hygienists. Although the Raamplan Mondzorg 2020 states that it follows the ADEE’s Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (VSNU 2020), and consequently should follow the ESE’s Undergraduate Curriculum Guidelines for Endodontology, it says that the novice dentist should be competent to treat endodontic cases that will be encountered in everyday practice. However, dentists will not only encounter uncomplicated cases in their practices, they will also encounter complex cases (Kirkevang 2021). It would be better if the complex cases are treated by more experienced practitioners who have followed formalized postgraduate education in Endodontology for three years (i.e. endodontists) (Kirkevang 2021). In the Netherlands, such a formalized postgraduate programme is present, and there are endodontists to whom dentists can refer the complex cases. We would advise that the Raamplan Mondzorg follows the Undergraduate Curriculum Guidelines for Endodontology of the ESE. More specifically, we suggest that, in line with the requirements concerning other fields of dentistry, the level of competence described in the Raamplan Mondzorg for the field of Endodontology should be narrowed down to: ‘at graduation, dental students are competent to provide uncomplicated endodontic care and they are trained to refer their patients for endodontic care that is beyond their skill set’. Preferably, for each of the subareas within the field of Endodontology (i.e. diagnosis and Annemarie Baaij.indd 115 28-06-2023 12:26