[Development and evaluation of simulation methods for manual skills training in 'Removable dentures' module]

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Prosthodontics
• Simulation Technology

Background:

• Traditional dental education relies on conventional methods for teaching manual skills.
• Assessing the effectiveness of new simulation technologies is crucial for advancing dental training.
• Removable dentures require precise manual dexterity for successful clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a simulation-based teaching method for manual skills related to removable dentures.
• To compare the outcomes of simulation training with standard phantom-based education in a clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• Two study phases involved dental students and young professionals (82 and 48 participants, respectively).
• Participants were divided into control (standard phantoms) and study (CDS 100 dental simulator) groups.
• Objective quality assessment of periodontal ledges was performed using a Zirkozahn arti s600 scanner.

Main Results:

• The control group showed a higher need for corrective adjustments to abutment teeth.
• The simulation group (CDS 100) demonstrated no significant difference in the quality of periodontal ledges across study stages.
• This suggests that simulator-acquired automatism of movements is a statistically significant predictor of skill quality.

Conclusions:

• Interactive computer simulation (CDS 100) enhances the acquisition and long-term retention of practical dental skills.
• Simulation-based training proves superior to classical methods for developing manual dexterity in prosthodontics.
• The findings support the integration of advanced simulation tools in dental curricula for improved clinical outcomes.