Wax carving exercises predict performance on practical examinations for first-year dental students

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Medical Simulation
• Psychomotor Skills Assessment

Background:

• Spatial perception is crucial in dentistry, with the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) being a valid measure.
• A validated psychomotor skill test specifically for dental students is currently lacking.
• Early identification of students struggling with psychomotor skills is essential for effective dental training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the predictive validity of wax carving exercises (E1 and E2) for dental anatomy practical examination performance.
• To compare the predictive power of wax carving exercises against the Perceptual Ability Test (PAT), quantitative reasoning (QR), and academic average (AA).

Main Methods:

• Sixty-nine first-year dental students participated.
• Data included PAT, QR, and AA scores, alongside two wax carving exercises (cube and semicircle) performed at different course stages (E1, E2).
• Performance on practical examinations (maxillary central incisor, mandibular first molar) was assessed using a linear mixed effects model.

Main Results:

• Wax carving exercises (E1 and E2) demonstrated stronger predictive value for practical examination performance compared to PAT, AA, and QR.
• The estimated predictive values were: PAT (0.027), AA (0.088), QR (-0.014), E1 (0.235), and E2 (0.175).

Conclusions:

• Wax carving exercises are superior predictors of dental students' practical performance.
• These exercises can serve as a valuable tool for early identification of students requiring additional support in preclinical dental education.