Grading Class I Preparations in Preclinical Dental Education: E4D Compare Software vs. the Traditional Standard

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of a novel assessment software system with the traditional grading protocol used in the University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston operative dentistry preclinical curriculum. In the study, conducted in 2016, 98 Class I preparations were evaluated both traditionally and digitally by two teams of calibrated preclinical faculty members (two evaluators for each team). Scores from each faculty pair were averaged for the traditional and the digital grading systems, and the scores for the two grading systems were compared. The analysis found no significant difference between the two grading systems with respect to isthmus width (p=0.073) and remaining marginal ridge (p=0.5841), but there was a significant difference with respect to pulpal floor depth assessment (p<0.0001). The data suggested that both grading techniques can be used with repeatable confidence for two out of three grading criteria: isthmus width and remaining marginal ridge. In addition, the software offers a self-assessment tool for students to perfect their psychomotor skills while promoting independence and immediate feedback.