title: Impact of Digital Tooth Preparation Evaluation Technology on Preclinical Dental Students' Technical and Self-Evaluation Skills.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of digital tooth preparation imaging and evaluation technology on dental students' technical abilities, self-evaluation skills, and the assessment of their simulated clinical work. A total of 80 second-year students at one U.S. dental school were assigned to one of three groups: control (n=40), E4D Compare (n=20), and Sirona prepCheck (n=20). Students in the control group were taught by traditional teaching methodologies, and the technology-assisted groups received both traditional training and supplementary feedback from the corresponding digital system. Three outcomes were measured: faculty technical score, self-evaluation score, and E4D Compare scores at 0.30 mm tolerance. Correlations were determined between the groups' scores from visual assessment and self-evaluation and between the visual assessment and digital scores. The results showed that the visual assessment and self-evaluation scores did not differ among groups (p>0.05). Overall, correlations between visual and digital assessment scores were modest though statistically significant (5% level of significance). These results suggest that the use of digital tooth preparation evaluation technology did not impact the students' prosthodontic technical and self-evaluation skills. Visual scores given by faculty and digital assessment scores correlated moderately in only two instances.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Gratton is Associate Professor and Director, Division of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Hospital Dentistry Institute, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Dr. Kwon is Associate Professor and Program Director, Center for Dental Research, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Blanchette is Biostatistician, Division of Biostatistics and Research Design, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics; and Dr. Aquilino is Professor Emeritus, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Gratton
authors.affiliation: Dr. Gratton is Associate Professor and Director, Division of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Hospital Dentistry Institute, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Dr. Kwon is Associate Professor and Program Director, Center for Dental Research, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Blanchette is Biostatistician, Division of Biostatistics and Research Design, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics; and Dr. Aquilino is Professor Emeritus, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics. sorankwon@llu.edu.
authors.forename: So Ran
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Dr. Gratton is Associate Professor and Director, Division of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Hospital Dentistry Institute, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Dr. Kwon is Associate Professor and Program Director, Center for Dental Research, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Blanchette is Biostatistician, Division of Biostatistics and Research Design, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics; and Dr. Aquilino is Professor Emeritus, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics.
authors.forename: Derek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blanchette
authors.affiliation: Dr. Gratton is Associate Professor and Director, Division of Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Hospital Dentistry Institute, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Dr. Kwon is Associate Professor and Program Director, Center for Dental Research, Loma Linda University School of Dentistry; Dr. Blanchette is Biostatistician, Division of Biostatistics and Research Design, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics; and Dr. Aquilino is Professor Emeritus, Department of Prosthodontics, University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics.
authors.forename: Steven A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Aquilino
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D057189:Checklist; D002983:Clinical Competence; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004497:Education, Dental; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D018961:Educational Technology / Q000379:methods*; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005246:Feedback; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011476:Prosthodontics / Q000193:education*; D012655:Self-Evaluation Programs; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods; D013674:Technology, Dental / Q000379:methods; D019231:Tooth Preparation, Prosthodontic / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: dental education; digital evaluation software; tooth preparation