Evaluation of Aesthetic Restorations Prepared by Undergraduate Students on Typodont Models

Abstract

The dental school curriculum is based on theoretical and practical courses. Before real patients, students practice on secure environments like typodonts or simulators to manage the functional and aesthetic properties of tooth restorations. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of class IV aesthetic restorations prepared by undergraduate dental students across different years of training, in terms of surface gloss, anatomic form, marginal adaptation, and proximal contact. Four consecutive classes of dental students (n = 15) were tasked with restoring a class IV cavity on a typodont tooth. Restorations were performed using a universal adhesive and nanohybrid resin composite. Evaluations were performed using the modified FDI criteria. Data were statistically analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance, along with a t-test. The FDI scores for restorations by second-, fourth-, and fifth-year dental students were not significantly different. Third-year students had less success than others only in terms of incisal marginal adaptation. Forty-seven of the 60 (78.3%) restorations were clinically sufficient in all of the evaluated criteria. There were no statistically significant differences between the restorations performed by female and male students. The two-year preclinical training along with theoretical and practical education is sufficient for students to acquire basic restorative skills needed in clinical practice.