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Lean Methods Applied to CAD/CAM Pedagogy in the Dental Simulation Laboratory
Sharon C Siegel1, Steven B Kramer2, Kimberly M Deranek2
1Sharon C. Siegel, DDS, MS, MBA, is Professor, Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University; Steven B. Kramer, MS, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Decision Sciences, H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Nova Southeastern University; and Kimberly M. Deranek, MS, PhD, is Associate Professor, Department of Decision Sciences, H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Nova Southeastern University. scsiegel@nova.edu.
Lean methods in dental education significantly reduced student preparation and design times for computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) indirect restorations. This efficiency improvement did not compromise the quality of CAD/CAM tooth preparations.
Area of Science:
- Dental Education
- Restorative Dentistry
- Manufacturing Engineering
Background:
- Dental education is integrating computer-assisted design/computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technologies into clinical practice.
- Optimizing preclinical training is crucial for efficient CAD/CAM indirect restoration (CAD/CAM IR) delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of lean production methods on preclinical dental students' efficiency in completing CAD/CAM IR.
- To assess if lean methods affect the quality of CAD/CAM tooth preparations.
Main Methods:
- Third-year dental students were divided into control (traditional methods) and research (lean methods) groups.
- Cycle times for CAD/CAM IR preparation and design were recorded and analyzed.
- Quality of CAD/CAM tooth preparations was assessed using standardized grading tools.
Main Results:
- The research group showed significantly faster preparation times for crowns and onlays (p<0.05).
- CAD/CAM crown and onlay design times were significantly reduced in the research group (p<0.05).
- No significant differences were found in scanning times or preparation quality between groups (p>0.05).
Conclusions:
- Lean methods significantly enhance efficiency in preclinical CAD/CAM dental education.
- Implementing lean pedagogy improves CAD/CAM IR completion times without sacrificing restorative quality.
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