title: Efficacy of a step-by-step carving technique for dental students.
abstract: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a step-by-step carving technique that is quickly and efficiently mastered by dental students. Thirty-six final-year dental students volunteered to participate in this study. The students were given pre-prepared lower right first molar simulation teeth that had the occlusal half replaced in carving wax. The study was conducted in three time phases: pre-test (Time 1), participative learning (Time 2), and post-test (Time 3). The pre-test had the students carve the wax with no instruction. Instruction and demonstration of the technique were given at Time 2, and the post-test had the students carve the tooth again with no guidance but with training. A statistically significant increase with a nearly medium effect size was found from Time 1 to Time 2. A statistically significant increase with a medium effect size was found when comparing Time 2 to Time 3. A statistically significant increase with a large effect size was found when comparing Time 1 to Time 3. This technique has proved to be an effective method of simultaneously teaching a large cohort of predoctoral dental students. The technique is consistent with constructivist learning theory.
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, School of Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. kilistof@ualberta.ca
authors: Alan J
authors: AJ
authors: Kilistoff
authors: Louis
authors: L
authors: Mackenzie
authors: Marcel
authors: M
authors: D'Eon
authors: Krista
authors: K
authors: Trinder
mesh_terms: D003723:Dental Amalgam; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D003814:Dentistry, Operative / Q000379:methods*; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009043:Motor Activity; D014070:Tooth / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014885:Waxes
chemical_list: D014885:Waxes; D003723:Dental Amalgam