Effectiveness of Using Analytical Grading Method for Crown Preparation Performed by Dental Students - An In-Vitro Study.

Abstract

Introduction: Tooth preparations have traditionally been graded using a visual system that either subjectively assigns a single mark (global grading) or objectively divides the grade into several smaller categories. (analytical grading using rubrics). The objective of this study is to determine how effectively rubrics work for evaluating dental students' performance in crown preparation.

Material and methods: In this double-blind study, 89 fourth-year dental students and three senior faculty members with master's degrees in operative dental sciences participated. To create a metal-ceramic crown, the students prepared an acrylic tooth. The parameters for evaluating the preparation were explained in detail to the students. The three senior faculty members evaluated different aspects of the preparation using an analytical rubric based on a 10-point scale. For statistical analysis, post hoc Tukey tests, ANOVA, and descriptive statistics were employed.

Result: One-way ANOVA showed no significant differences among the seniors for all criteria except for margin placement and two-plane reduction. There were no significant differences in the total degree of student performance among seniors; however, the highest score was given by Senior 2 (6.421 ± 1.2058), and the lowest score was given by Senior 3 (6.042 ± 1.9085). The weakest areas in the student's tooth preparations were two-plane reduction and preservation of adjacent teeth, which received the lowest student scores (48.10% and 49.10%, respectively).

Conclusion: An analytical rubric is a useful tool for identifying dental students' mistakes and areas of weakness.