Self‐assessment skills of undergraduate dental students in the preclinical course of complete removable prosthodontics at Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Abstract

IntroductionThis study evaluated the self‐assessment skills of third‐year dental students regarding their performance in complete removable prosthodontics (CRP) preclinical course.Methods and MaterialsThis cross‐sectional study was conducted on all third‐year dental students attending the International Dental College of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The students were requested to self‐assess their performance in primary impression making, custom tray fabrication, border moulding, final impression making, master cast fabrication, record‐base fabrication and tooth arrangement in CRP preclinical course. The performance of dental students in each step was scored by themselves and their mentors. Data were analysed by the Mann–Whitney U, Pearson's correlation and t‐tests (α = 0.05).ResultsTotally 25 male (55.6%) and 20 female (44.4%) dental students were evaluated. Significant differences were noted between male and female dental students in self‐assessment scores regarding adequate extension of the custom tray (p = .027), the correct position of tray handle (p = .020), visibility of vestibular width and depth on the cast (p = .011), the coincidence of upper and lower midlines (p = .005) and correct orientation of maxillary and mandibular planes in the articulator (p = .036). The mean self‐assessment score of female students was significantly higher than that of male students (p = .01). The scores given by the mentors were not significantly different for male and female students (p = .975). The difference between the self‐assessment score of students and the mentor score was not significant (p = .067) either in males or in females (p > .05).ConclusionUndergraduate dental students favourably self‐assessed their performance in all steps of the preclinical course of CRP, comparable with their mentor assessment.