title: Effect of endodontic instrument handle diameter on operator performance.
abstract: A phantom head simulator was used by 30 dental students to determine the effect of instrument handle diameter on the time taken to complete a manipulative task. No significant differences were found for handles between 2.5 and 5 mm diameter. Almost one-third of the participants thought that gloves were a hindrance, and it was considered that "glove wrap," where layers of glove roll over one another, might be a problem with small handles. Despite these subjective reports, the students performed no better without gloves when using the 2.5 mm handle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Treble
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004526:Efficiency; D004867:Equipment Design; D006804:Ergonomics; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013997:Time Factors; D014110:Touch