Development and assessment of an indirect vision training programme for operatory dentistry: Effects on working posture

Objectives Perceptual ability test (PAT) is a valid determinant for spatial perceptions. However, proven psychomotor skill tests for dentistry do not currently exist. This study aimed to determine whether performance on the PAT, Operation game, mirror tracing, and wax carving exercises correlate to preclinical laboratory performance in Dental Anatomy and Restorative Dentistry courses. Methods First‐year dental students (n = 96) participated in the study. Final laboratory grades were obtained from course directors of preclinical Restorative Dentistry and Dental Anatomy courses. Admissions committee provided participants' PAT results. Participants completed a wax carving exercise by carving a cube and a semicircle into a wax block using the wax subtraction method. Two calibrated faculty graded the carvings as Ideal (5), Satisfactory (3), or Unsatisfactory (1). Time to complete the Operation game and number of infractions were recorded. Participants traced the six‐pointed star pattern on the Auto Scoring Mirror Tracer instrument in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. Completion times and number of instances outside the pattern were recorded. Spearman Rank Correlations were used to determine associations at 0.05 confidence interval. Results Mean PAT score was 21.7; mean times to complete the Operation game and mirror tracing exercise were 4:20 and 1:30, respectively. Mean score on the wax carving exercise was 3.19. Correlations between the independent and dependent variables were minimal to weak. The wax carving exercise was the most reliable predictor of performance. Conclusions When PAT scores are striated into low (less than 20), middle (21–22), and high (23–30), it was possible to predict performance in both preclinical laboratory courses.

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mirror Tracing Exercisementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Mirror Tracing Exercisementioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Investigating correlations between the PAT and three hand‐skill exercises to performance in preclinical laboratory courses

Imbery

Malone

Alhaddad

et al. 2023

Manual dexterity in dentistry: Development and evaluation of a preclinical training program

Neves

Pazos

Genaro

et al. 2023

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The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the effect of a manual dexterity training program on manual dexterity, perception of selfconfidence, quality of cavity preparations, and ergonomic work posture of dental students prior to preclinical training. Methods: Students in the first year of the undergraduate dentistry program (N = 63) participated in this study. The program consisted of eight phases in which students performed different types of activities. The dependent variables were: manual dexterity assessed by the modified Dental Manual Dexterity Assessment; self-confidence to perform a preclinical procedure using the VAS scale; quality of Class I cavity preparation; angular deviation from the neutral position of the neck, trunk, wrist and distance between the student's eyes and the mannequin's tooth. These variables were evaluated at two different times: before and after the application of the program. The independent variable was the preclinical manual dexterity training program. After meeting the assumption of normality, the paired t-Student test was performed, the significance level was 5%. Results:The results showed a statistically significant difference in relation to manual dexterity (p < 0.001), self-confidence (p < 0.001), quality of cavity preparations (p < 0.001), distance from the eyes of the student/mannequin (p < 0.001), deviation angle of the neutral position of the trunk (p = 0.007) and wrists (p < 0.001), with better results in posttraining. Conclusion: It was possible to conclude that, in general, the proposed training positively influenced the self-confidence, dexterity, quality of work, and ergonomics of the evaluated students.

The effect of Galilean magnification loupes on the visual acuity and working distance of dental students

Pazos,

dos Santos,

Dovigo

et al. 2024

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ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the visual acuity and working distance of dental students using Galilean loupes at different magnification levels.MethodsThe participants included 50 undergraduate dentistry students selected from each class in the second to fifth years (N = 200) of São Paulo State University, School of Dentistry, Araraquara. The response variables were (i) the working distance between the operator's eyes and the mouth of the dental phantom head, and (ii) visual acuity. The independent variables were the five levels of the Galilean magnification system (naked eye, Galilean loupe simulator without magnification, and Galilean loupes with 2.5×, 3.0×, or 3.5× magnification) and academic year. Visual acuity was measured using a miniature Snellen eye chart inserted into the Class I cavities of the maxillary molars. After verifying the assumptions of normality and sphericity, a mixed repeated measures analysis was performed (α = 0.05).ResultsStatistical significance was found between the “magnification system” and “academic year” for visual acuity (p < 0.001). For the second‐, fourth‐, and fifth‐year participants, there were no significant differences in visual acuity between the naked eye and different magnifications of the Galilean loupes, which were superior to and significantly different from that of the loupe simulator. For the working distance, statistical significance was observed in the interaction between “magnification system” and “academic year” (p = 0.008). For the third‐, fourth‐, and fifth‐year participants, there was no significant difference in the working distance between the naked eye and different magnifications of the Galilean loupes, which were superior to and significantly different from that of the simulator.ConclusionIt was concluded that the different magnification levels of the Galilean loupes did not influence the visual acuity or distance between the eyes of the operator and the mouth of the dental phantom head in the evaluated students.