[Comparison of two carving methods applied for triple-sized plaster tooth in dental anatomy teaching]

To explore how to apply polyhedron method and bisection method reasonably in teaching by comparing the two carving methods for triple-sized plaster tooth.

43 students were randomly divided into two groups as follows: polyhedron method group (n = 22) and bisection method group (n = 21). A comparison was made between the two carving methods by taking right maxillary central incisor carving as a sample for the anterior tooth carving and taking right maxillary first molar carving as a sample for the posterior tooth carving. Paired test and grouped t test were used for data analysis; the results were assessed by SAS6.12 software package.

For the beginners, regarding to right maxillary central incisor carving, there was no significant difference between the two methods (P > 0.05). But regarding to right maxillary first molar carving, the carving performance of polyhedron method group was significant better than bisection method group (P < 0.05). After 11 months, as for the two carvings mentioned above, students in the two groups both had made significant progresses compared with the beginners (P > 0.01). While regarding to right maxillary central incisor carving, progresses of the two groups were not significant (P > 0.05). But regarding to right maxillary first molar carving, the students in bisection method group had made greater progresses than students in polyhedron method group (P < 0.01).

It's concluded that, in order to obtain better teaching effects, carving methods should be chosen appropriately in teaching according to different teeth and different study stages.