An audit of cavity and crown preparations and two direct restorations carried out by foundation dentists in the Oxford and Wessex Deaneries

Abstract

It is likely that many foundation dentists (FDs) will have completed only minimal amounts of restorative dentistry for a number of months immediately prior to commencing work as FDs. Thus this audit aimed to assess the performance of the FDs when they carried out a number of simulated clinical exercises: amalgam cavities and restoration; Class IV resin composite restorations; and full crown preparations for metal-ceramic restorations. A total of 67 FDs completed the assessments and some results did indicate a high level of concern and need for further evaluation of restorative practice.

In vitro cavity and crown preparations and direct restorations: A comparison of performance at the start and end of the FD programme

“…In an ideal investigation, two or more examiners might have been used, but this was not possible in the present study. However, the reliability of the examiner in the present study had been demonstrated in the previous work 4 .…”

“…As a result, Jokstad and Mjor, in 1987 10 , defined criteria for external outline, external cavity definition, margin roughness and internal cavity definition, with five different scale points. It was considered that that system was too complex for the present study, hence the development of the present, simplified, scoring system, which has been considered to work satisfactorily in the present study and in previous work 4 .…”

“…• The FDs were asked to prepare two teeth for porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown preparations, UL4 and UR4, having previously viewed a PowerPoint presentation prepared by one of the authors (LM) in which they were given standardised instructions, based upon well recognised contemporary texts on crown preparation, such as Shillingburg 5 . For one of these preparations, the FDs used a putty matrix, although, in the previous study, this had no influence on the grade achieved 4 . For the other preparation, a putty matrix was not utilised.…”

“…The methodology utilised for assessing the FDs' performance with regard to cavity/crown preparation and two restorations has previously been described 4 .…”

“…Prior to graduation, the FDs will have completed a variable number of direct and indirect restorations, based on the syllabus set by their different universities of graduation, but which also must be sufficient to satisfy the curriculum published by the Regulatory Body, the UK General Dental Council 3 . As described in a previous paper 4 it was considered by the Oxford and Wessex Deaneries that the FDs would benefit from undertaking a day-long basic restorative dentistry "refresher course" on phantom head models as soon as possible after entering the dental foundation training programme. Their performance on this course was externally reviewed, in order to inform a preliminary assessment of the FDs' individual learning needs, so that any areas identified for improvement could be targeted by their educational supervisors (trainers).…”