The chamfer finish line: preclinical student performance using different bur designs

The primary purposes of this investigation were to evaluate sophomore dental student performance in the production of a chamfer finish line using two diamond bur types-a round-ended bur and a torpedo-shaped bur-and to gain student feedback about their preferences for bur type. Fifty students took part in the study, each of whom prepared the buccal surfaces of two mandibular molar typodont teeth, producing chamfer finish lines. Students prepared both teeth in the same laboratory session and were randomly assigned to two groups that were required to prepare the first of the two molars with a specific bur type. The prepared chamfer finish lines were scored and the data analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Student performance was significantly better when the round-ended bur was used (p=0.005). Student feedback was collected with a survey that consisted of four questions and the opportunity to provide write-in comments. In response to the question "Overall, was one bur type better?" 58 percent of the students preferred the round-ended bur for creating a chamfer finish line. The most frequent write-in comment, made by twelve of the fifty students, criticized the torpedo-shaped bur for creating finish lines that were too shallow or too long.