Effect of endodontic instrument handle diameter on operator performance

Area of Science:

• Dental ergonomics
• Instrument design
• Manual dexterity assessment

Background:

• Instrument handle diameter is a key factor in dental tool usability.
• Understanding ergonomic principles is crucial for optimizing dental procedures.
• Previous research has explored various factors influencing instrument handling efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of varying instrument handle diameters on task completion time in dental students.
• To investigate the subjective experience of dental students regarding instrument handle size and glove use.
• To determine if glove use affects performance with smaller instrument handles.

Main Methods:

• A phantom head simulator was utilized for a controlled experimental setup.
• Thirty dental students participated in the study, performing a standardized manipulative task.
• Objective task completion times and subjective feedback on instrument handles and gloves were recorded.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant difference in task completion time was observed between instrument handles of 2.5 mm and 5 mm diameter.
• Approximately one-third of participants reported gloves as a hindrance, particularly with smaller handles ('glove wrap' issue).
• Objective performance with the 2.5 mm handle was not significantly better when participants did not wear gloves.

Conclusions:

• Instrument handle diameter between 2.5 mm and 5 mm does not significantly affect manipulative task efficiency for dental students.
• Subjective difficulties with glove use on smaller handles do not translate to objectively poorer performance.
• Ergonomic recommendations for dental instruments should consider both objective performance and subjective user experience.