Development of an assessment strategy in preclinical fixed prosthodontics course using virtual assessment...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate interrater agreement between faculty and virtual assessments of preparations for complete coverage restorations in preclinical fixed prosthodontics. Teeth prepared during preclinical fixed prosthodontics practical exams at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine were used in this study. Teeth were prepared for fabrication of complete cast, metal ceramic, and all ceramic crowns. The specimens were digitized using an intraoral scanner. Then, they were virtually superimposed on the corresponding standard preparations using Compare software. The software was used to quantify comparison percentages, average finish line widths, and average axial wall heights. Two calibrated faculty members assessed preparations for occlusal/incisal reduction, finish line location, axial wall height, and finish line width using traditional assessment forms. Cohen's kappa coefficient was used to measure interrater agreement between faculty and virtual assessments. Kappa interrater agreement scores ranged between 0.83 and 0.88 for virtually assessed comparison percentages and sums of faculty-assessed occlusal/incisal reduction and finish line location. Kappa interrater agreement score ranges were 0.64-0.94 and 0.74-0.89 for comparisons of virtual and faculty assessments for axial wall height and finish line width, respectively. Virtual assessments are similar to faculty assessments for occlusal/incisal reduction, finish line location, axial wall height, and finish line width in fixed prosthodontics and can be used as equivalent evaluations of student performance for these criteria.