Implementation and validation of an extraction course using mannequin models for undergraduate dental students.
OBJECTIVE
There is a gap in the education of dental undergraduate students between theoretical knowledge and the practical procedure of tooth extraction. It was the aim of this study to implement and validate an undergraduate course for oral extraction using mannequin models, in order to enhance practical competence in this field of dentistry.


METHODS
A one-term oral extraction course was implemented as part of the oral surgery curriculum for undergraduate dental students, including 4 h of theoretical education, followed by 4 h of practical training in tooth extraction on mannequin models, with the students divided into small groups. Forty-nine students attending this extraction course were asked to validate their training in dental extraction using a questionnaire (TRIL-mod; University of Trier, Trier, Germany). The students' practical competence in oral extraction was assessed by a senior supervisor at the end of the course, using a standardized checklist.


RESULTS
All questionnaires were returned. Overall, the course was rated with an average score of 4.7 (rating range: 1-6; 1 = worst/6 = best). The assessment of practical skills yielded a successful and complete performance of tooth extraction by 94% of the students.


CONCLUSIONS
A tooth extraction course using a mannequin model is appreciated by dental students and can achieve a sufficient level of competence in tooth extraction with reasonable educational efforts.
Stelzle
Florian
F
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany. Florian.Stelzle@uk-erlangen.de
Farhoumand
Daniel
D
Neukam
Friedrich W
FW
Nkenke
Emeka
E
D000328:Adult; D000543:Alveoloplasty; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D057189:Checklist; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003475:Curettage; D003479:Curriculum; D003791:Dental Pulp Test; D004497:Education, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D013515:Surgery, Oral / Q000193:education*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D014081:Tooth Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult