Effects of immediate introduction of indirect vision on performance and posture

When students are taught psychomotor skills in the mandibular arch and transfer to the maxillary arch, there is a continued desire to depend upon direct vision, which results in early acquisition of poor postural habits. This study examined differences in psychomotor performance between dental students beginning with direct and indirect vision exercises. The investigation was conducted in a preclinical Performance Simulation Laboratory that allowed a high degree of accuracy in the evaluation of operator posture. No significant differences in performance were found between the groups. Within group variances indicated that there was a more uniform transition from maxillary to mandibular preparations than from the lower to upper arch preparations. Analysis of the postural data showed no significant relationship to the quality of cavity preparation, but indicated that student posture was better for the arch in which they first learned. The study was unable to substantiate the assumption that mirror management is better taught after direct vision skills are learned.