Intraoral Scanners: Enhancing Dental Education

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Digital Dentistry
• Operative Dentistry

Background:

• Evaluating the integration of intraoral scanners (IOS) in dental school curricula.
• Assessing the impact on second-year dental students' understanding of ceramic inlay preparations.
• Examining differences in impact based on individual learning preferences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of IOS integration on dental students' perception of ceramic inlay preparation understanding.
• To explore how learning preferences affect the perceived educational value of IOS.

Main Methods:

• IOS was integrated into Digital Dentistry and Operative II courses, supplementing traditional teaching methods.
• Students used IOS to create 3D models of their preparations for enhanced visualization and feedback.
• A validated survey assessed student perceptions of IOS's educational value and impact on understanding, analyzed by learning preference.

Main Results:

• 96.6% of students agreed IOS improved visualization of ceramic inlay preparations and was a valuable adjunct to lectures.
• Visual learners reported significantly higher satisfaction with IOS integration compared to nonvisual learners (p=0.001).
• Students identified other courses where IOS could serve as a beneficial visual aid.

Conclusions:

• IOS integration in preclinical dental education enhances students' perceived understanding and visualization of ceramic inlay preparations.
• The positive impact of IOS was most pronounced among visual learners.
• IOS is an effective tool for improving spatial reasoning and integrating theoretical and practical dental education.