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Published on: July 30, 2007
Effect of Training Method on Dental Students' Light-Curing Performance
Grace M De Souza1, Wafa El-Badrawy2, Laura E Tam2
1Grace M. De Souza, DDS, MSc, PhD, is Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto; Wafa El-Badrawy, BDS, MSc, is Associate Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto; and Laura E. Tam, DDS, MSc, is Professor, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto grace.desouza@dentistry.utoronto.ca.
Different dental student training methods significantly impact light-curing performance. Hands-on simulator training and continued practice improved irradiance levels over time, highlighting the need for effective dental education strategies.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Restorative Dentistry
- Light-Curing Technology
Background:
- Effective light-curing is crucial for successful dental restorations.
- Dental student training methods vary, with unclear impacts on long-term performance.
- Assessing the efficacy of different training approaches is vital for dental curricula.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of distinct light-curing training methods on dental students' performance.
- To assess performance immediately after and one year post-training.
- To compare the efficacy of training across different dental student years (first vs. third).
Main Methods:
- Two-part study involving first-year dental students in 2013 and subsequent first-year and third-year students in 2014.
- Three training groups: Control (lecture), Tips (lecture + tips), and Simulator (lecture + tips + hands-on simulation).
- Light-curing performance measured by irradiance levels immediately after and one year post-training.
Main Results:
- Time significantly improved light-curing performance, with higher results observed one year after training.
- Training method significantly affected mean and maximum irradiance values in first-year students.
- Significant effects of training on mean and maximum irradiance were found in the second part of the study.
Conclusions:
- Training methods, particularly hands-on simulation, significantly enhance dental students' light-curing efficacy.
- Performance improves over time, suggesting the importance of reinforcement and practice.
- Further research is needed to identify optimal light-curing training protocols for dental education.
