The Technical Quality of Preclinical Tooth Preparation by Undergraduate Dental Students.

Abstract

Background: Tooth preparation is a fundamental technical skill in dentistry, demanding accuracy, careful attention to detail, and a comprehensive knowledge of dental anatomy. Pre-clinical training allows dental students to cultivate and enhance these abilities prior to conducting procedures on real patients. This research seeks to assess the quality of tooth preparation carried out by dental students in their pre-clinical training.

Methods: A total of 221 artificial typodont teeth were used for simulated tooth preparations for a full contour ceramic crown by fourth-year pre-clinical dental students in a simulated dental environment (n=111 males and 110 females). Jaw models were mounted on phantom heads during the tooth preparation procedure. The tooth preparations were evaluated using standardized criteria, including 1.5-2 mm lingual, facial, axial and occlusal reductions, 6-10 degrees of axial wall taper, marginal integrity and surface smoothness. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results as either acceptable or unacceptable.

Results: The majority of the students showed unacceptable occlusal reduction (89.6%). For axial reduction, the majority of students showed unacceptable results, recorded in 99.5% and 98.6% on the mesial and distal sides, respectively. Unacceptable facial and lingual reductions were noted in 93.7% and 77.4%, respectively. The taper angle on the mesial and distal sides was acceptable in 53.8% and 57.5%, respectively. About 56.6% of the dental students demonstrated acceptable marginal placement during preparation. Moreover, satisfactory finishing and rounded angles of the preparation were done by 68.3% and 58.4% of the students, respectively.

Conclusion: The results revealed that most students achieved unsatisfactory results. This study underscores the importance of continuous assessment and tailored teaching strategies to enhance the quality of tooth preparation during pre-clinical training.