An Educational Evaluation of Thiel Cadavers as a Model for Teaching Suturing Skills to Dental Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Suturing is an essential skill in dentistry and not one easily acquired. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a change to the use of Thiel cadavers and online resources with the aim of improving skill acquisition using the best model available. This study investigated the utility of the Thiel cadaver for teaching suturing skills and the potential impact of the lockdown. Fifty-seven year 4 students attended a teaching session. Student views on this teaching were explored via a questionnaire survey and qualitative data collected from a focus group. Data were analysed using an inductive approach. The response rate was 53% (30 students) for the questionnaire with 9 students participating in the focus group. Independent feedback was provided by two members of the teaching staff. Online video resources were very well received by the students with 97% agreeing that it was useful preparation. Ninety percent (90%) thought that the cadaveric model was suitable for this teaching and realistic. Positive emergent themes from the focus group centred on the use of the cadaveric model and the positive and relaxed teaching and learning environment. Staff perceived this model as superior to previously used models. There were no reported negative pandemic impacts and the cadaver model was well received.

A Comparison of Models for Teaching Suturing and Surgical Skills to Dental Students

“…The results confirm our previous findings that the cadaver model is better appraised by the students as a model for suturing and supports its use for teaching mucoperiosteal flaps [9]. The students were positive about the use of the video in preparation for the teaching which is in keeping with other reports [9,[12][13][14].…”

“…The results confirm our previous findings that the cadaver model is better appraised by the students as a model for suturing and supports its use for teaching mucoperiosteal flaps [9]. The students were positive about the use of the video in preparation for the teaching which is in keeping with other reports [9,[12][13][14]. By increasing the degree of difficulty and anatomical realism of the models, we hoped to help the students learn the basic technique and then understand, and be able to apply, modifications to accommodate the space limitations encountered in the oral cavity.…”

“…Thiel models for suturing have been well received by our students. Students had been previously exposed to them for exodontia teaching [ 9 ]. Over many years in Dundee, several surgical training models have been adopted including porcine models, a commercially available flatbed model and more recently in-house manufactured silicon models allied to be spoke 3D printed model jaws [ 10 ].…”

“…These models can be mounted in phantom heads and allow students to cut and raise flaps and subsequently suture them back in place providing a more realistic understanding of the anatomical restrictions of the oral cavity, especially in dentate cases. To enhance the learning experience, the use of a video resource to prepare the students in advance of the teaching is advocated [ 2 , 9 , 11 ] and has been recommended as part of good educational framework [ 12 ]. Video-assisted self-monitoring has been shown to be effective for teaching suturing skills to dental students using the plan-do-check-act (PDCA) cycle [ 13 ].…”

The Impact of a 1-Year COVID-19 Extension on Undergraduate Dentistry in Dundee: Final Year Students’ Perspectives of Their Training in Oral Surgery

“…The impact on undergraduate dental education was immense, and the immediate upheaval caused by the pandemic compelled dental schools to re-deploy efforts to prepare students for successful graduation [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Although alternative online teaching approaches might be well suited to didactic lecture-based materials, they are a poor substitute for clinical hands-on teaching [ 14 ].…”