A pilot study on the use of a novel digital real-time evaluation system in undergraduate preclinical training of tooth preparation in fixed prosthodontics

IntroductionIn the light of the digital teaching, it is necessary that the effectiveness of a new digital real-time evaluation system in the preclinical training of tooth preparation be evaluated. Materials and MethodsForty undergraduate dental students of the fourth year were randomly divided into the control group and the experimental group to complete the training task of tooth preparation for porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown restoring the upper right central incisor. The control students received conventional training with instructor's guidance. The experimental students received training with the digital system without instructor's guidance. Every student exercised preparation in two resin incisors in 3 h training by respective training methods. A third incisor was prepared on a dental model in the simulated head phantom by each student as the test on the next day. All students' tooth preparations were scored by the same two experienced experts. The experimental students were asked to answer a questionnaire regarding their attitudes and opinions on the digital evaluation system in preclinical training. ResultsThere was no significant difference between the scores of the experimental group and the control group (p > .05). The students of two groups obtained the similar scores in the test (p > .05). Most of the students were supportive of the application of digital training system in the preclinical tooth preparation training course. ConclusionsThe digital real-time evaluation system could provide effective training effects for the dental undergraduate students in the preclinical training of tooth preparation in fixed prosthodontics.