title: [Comparison of two carving methods applied for triple-sized plaster tooth in dental anatomy teaching].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how to apply polyhedron method and bisection method reasonably in teaching by comparing the two carving methods for triple-sized plaster tooth.
  
  
  METHODS
  43 students were randomly divided into two groups as follows: polyhedron method group (n = 22) and bisection method group (n = 21). A comparison was made between the two carving methods by taking right maxillary central incisor carving as a sample for the anterior tooth carving and taking right maxillary first molar carving as a sample for the posterior tooth carving. Paired test and grouped t test were used for data analysis; the results were assessed by SAS6.12 software package.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the beginners, regarding to right maxillary central incisor carving, there was no significant difference between the two methods (P > 0.05). But regarding to right maxillary first molar carving, the carving performance of polyhedron method group was significant better than bisection method group (P < 0.05). After 11 months, as for the two carvings mentioned above, students in the two groups both had made significant progresses compared with the beginners (P > 0.01). While regarding to right maxillary central incisor carving, progresses of the two groups were not significant (P > 0.05). But regarding to right maxillary first molar carving, the students in bisection method group had made greater progresses than students in polyhedron method group (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It's concluded that, in order to obtain better teaching effects, carving methods should be chosen appropriately in teaching according to different teeth and different study stages.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Stomatology, Shanghai Institute of Health Sciences, China.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Zhong-Mei
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D004497:Education, Dental; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D007858:Learning; D008437:Maxilla; D003765:Models, Dental; D008963:Molar; D011476:Prosthodontics / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods*; D013335:Students, Dental; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*