Layered base plate blocks and operative dentistry skills

• Main Authors: Alkhubaizi, Q. (Author), Alomari, Q.D (Author), Khalaf, M.E (Author)
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd 2018
• Subjects: article; Cavity outline; clinical competence; Clinical Competence; clinical practice; controlled study; Cross-Sectional Studies; cross-sectional study; Dental Cavity Preparation; dental education; dental student; dental surgery; Dentistry, Operative; education; Education, Dental; human; human experiment; Humans; Layered base plate blocks; major clinical study; molar tooth; motor performance; Motor Skills; operative dentistry; Operative dentistry; preclinical study; procedures; psychology; psychomotor performance; Psychomotor Performance; rank sum test; self concept; Self Concept; Students, Dental; teaching; Teaching; Teaching Materials
• Online Access: View Fulltext in Publisher

 Aim: Preclinical dental training is essential for the development of psychomotor skills necessary for clinical practice. The study aimed to investigate the impact of teaching with a layered base plate blocks on cavity preparations and students' self-perceived confidence, readiness, and ability. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study recruited 52 dental students into two groups; one trained (test) with layered base plate and the other without (control). Students answered an eight-question survey to assess self-perceived confidence, readiness, and ability for performing cavity preparation at the start of their first preclinical operative dentistry course. Students prepared one molar tooth for a class I cavity and two for class II cavities. Preparations were assessed for different elements of depth and outline extension by two blinded examiners. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between the median scores with respect to the preparation of class II cavities among students exposed to layered base plate (Mann- Whitney U-test, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the median scores awarded with respect to the preparation of class I cavity. A statistically significant difference was reported in self-perceived confidence among students who trained with the layered base plate (χ2, p < 0.05). Conclusion: Training on the layered base plate blocks increased students' initial confidence level in performing cavity preparations, and improved the preparation skills in class II cavity. Clinical significance: This study explores the methods of enhancing motor skills taught in preclinical operative dentistry courses, especially in short academic programs. © Journal Contemporary Dental Practice 2018.