Top

BMC Oral Health

Published in:

01-12-2020 | Prosthodontics | Research article

Undergraduate dental students’ perspective on the implementation of digital dentistry in the preclinical curriculum: a questionnaire survey

Authors: Maximiliane Amelie Schlenz, Karin Michel, Kerstin Wegner, Alexander Schmidt, Peter Rehmann, Bernd Wöstmann

Published in: BMC Oral Health | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Digitalisation is an expanding field in dentistry and implementation of digital teaching methods in dental education is an essential part of modern education. Therefore, two digital training modules were implemented in the preclinical curriculum at the Justus Liebig University Giessen. The aim of this study was to assess the students’ perspective on the implementation with a questionnaire survey.

Methods

Since the fall term 2017/18, students of the course of dental prosthodontics I attended the training module I, where they learned to use computer-aided learning (CAL) approaches for the digital analysis of tooth preparations. In training module II, students of the course of dental prosthodontics II learned how to manufacture a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing restoration. After the completion of the training modules, all students starting with the fall term 2017/18 to the spring term 2019 were asked to fill in a questionnaire regarding the aspects of handling, didactic benefit, motivation, and overall assessment.

Results

Students rated the implementation of digital aspects in teaching as positive in terms of handling, didactic benefit, and motivation, but gave preference to the assessment of the tooth preparations by dental instructors. In addition, students assessed the feedback from the faculty regarding tips and tricks better than the digital feedback. More than 90% of the students indicated that they could imagine using an intraoral scanner for treatment of patients in the dental office in future.

Conclusions

The results of the present study revealed a positive perspective of students on the implementation of digital dentistry in the preclinical curriculum. However, difficulties with CAL systems were reported and most students preferred evaluation of preparation by dental instructors. Thus, CAL approaches offer an additional teaching method besides the traditional teaching of manual skills.

Rekow ED. Digital dentistry: a comprehensive reference and preview of the future. 1st ed. Surrey: Quintessence Publishing Company Limited; 2018.

Beuer F, Schweiger J, Edelhoff D. Digital dentistry: an overview of recent developments for CAD/CAM generated restorations. Br Dent J. 2008;204:505–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2008.350.CrossRefPubMed

Gratton DG, Kwon SR, Blanchette D, Aquilino SA. Impact of digital tooth preparation evaluation technology on preclinical dental Students’ technical and self-evaluation skills. J Dent Educ. 2016;80:91–9.PubMed

Murbay S, Neelakantan P, JWW C, Yeung S. Evaluation of the introduction of a dental virtual simulator on the performance of undergraduate dental students in the pre-clinical operative dentistry course. Eur J Dent Educ. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12453.

Wolgin M, Grabowski S, Elhadad S, Frank W, Kielbassa AM. Comparison of a prepCheck-supported self-assessment concept with conventional faculty supervision in a pre-clinical simulation environment. Eur J Dent Educ. 2018;22:e522–e9. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12337.CrossRefPubMed

Gratton DG, Kwon SR, Blanchette DR, Aquilino SA. Performance of two different digital evaluation systems used for assessing pre-clinical dental students’ prosthodontic technical skills. Eur J Dent Educ. 2017;21:252–60. https://doi.org/10.1111/eje.12231.CrossRefPubMed

Callan RS, Haywood VB, Cooper JR, Furness AR, Looney SW. The validity of using E4D Compare’s “% comparison” to assess crown preparations in preclinical dental education. J Dent Educ. 2015;79:1445–51.PubMed

Mays KA, Levine E. Dental students’ self-assessment of operative preparations using CAD/CAM: a preliminary analysis. J Dent Educ. 2014;78:1673–80.PubMed

Cooper LF, Campbell SD. Digital technology: impact on and opportunities for dental education. In: Rekow D, editor. Digital dentistry. Surrey: Quinzessence Publishing; 2018. p. 251–67.

10.

Welk A, Maggio MP, Simon JF, Scarbecz M, Harrison JA, Wicks RA, Gilpatrick RO. Computer-assisted learning and simulation lab with 40 DentSim units. Int J Comput Dent. 2008;11:17–40.PubMed

11.

Knight GW. Toward faculty calibration. J Dent Educ. 1997;61:941–6.PubMed

12.

Hamil LM, Mennito AS, Renne WG, Vuthiganon J. Dental students’ opinions of preparation assessment with E4D compare software versus traditional methods. J Dent Educ. 2014;78:1424–31.PubMed

13.

Jenkins SM, Dummer PM, Gilmour AS, Edmunds DH, Hicks R, Ash P. Evaluating undergraduate preclinical operative skill; use of a glance and grade marking system. J Dent. 1998;26:679–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0300-5712(97)00033-x.CrossRefPubMed

14.

Taylor CL, Grey NJ, Satterthwaite JD. A comparison of grades awarded by peer assessment, faculty and a digital scanning device in a pre-clinical operative skills course. Eur J Dent Educ. 2013;17:e16–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0579.2012.00752.x.CrossRefPubMed

15.

Connor JP, Troendle K. Perspectives on the dental school learning environment: theory X, theory Y, and situational leadership applied to dental education. J Dent Educ. 2007;71:977–82.PubMed

16.

Renne WG, McGill ST, Mennito AS, Wolf BJ, Marlow NM, Shaftman S, Holmes JR. E4D compare software: an alternative to faculty grading in dental education. J Dent Educ. 2013;77:168–75.PubMedPubMedCentral

17.

Sharaf AA, AbdelAziz AM, El Meligy OA. Intra- and inter-examiner variability in evaluating preclinical pediatric dentistry operative procedures. J Dent Educ. 2007;71:540–4.PubMed

18.

Ruiz JG, Mintzer MJ, Leipzig RM. The impact of E-learning in medical education. Acad Med. 2006;81:207–12. https://doi.org/10.1097/00001888-200603000-00002.CrossRefPubMed

19.

Lenherr P, Marinello CP. prepCheck computer-supported objective evaluation of students preparation in preclinical simulation laboratory. Swiss Dent J. 2014;124:1085–92.PubMed

20.

Buchanan JA. Use of simulation technology in dental education. J Dent Educ. 2001;65:1225–31.PubMed

21.

Cantillon P, Sargeant J. Giving feedback in clinical settings. BMJ. 2008;337:a1961. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.a1961.CrossRefPubMed

22.

Komorita SS. Attitude content, intensity, and the neutral point on a Likert scale. J Soc Psychol. 1963;61:327–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.1963.9919489.CrossRefPubMed

23.

Welk A, Splieth C, Wierinck E, Gilpatrick RO, Meyer G. Computer-assisted learning and simulation systems in dentistry--a challenge to society. Int J Comput Dent. 2006;9:253–65.PubMed

24.

Margaryan A, Littlejohn A, Vojt G. Are digital natives a myth or reality? University students’ use of digital technologies. Comput Educ. 2011;56:429–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compedu.2010.09.004.CrossRef

25.

Prensky M. Digital natives, digital immigrants part 1. On the Horizon. 2001;9:1–6. https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816.CrossRef

26.

Zimmermann M, Mormann W, Mehl A, Hickel R. Teaching dental undergraduate students restorative CAD/CAM technology: evaluation of a new concept. Int J Comput Dent. 2019;22:263–71.PubMed

27.

Musbahi A, Sharpe A, Straughan R, Ong S, Alhaddabi A, Reddy A. A near-peer regional surgical teaching programme designed by medical students, delivered by junior doctors. Med Educ Online. 2019;24:1583969. https://doi.org/10.1080/10872981.2019.1583969.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral

28.

Park CF, Sheinbaum JM, Tamada Y, Chandiramani R, Lian L, Lee C, Da Silva J, Ishikawa-Nagai S. Dental students’ perceptions of digital assessment software for preclinical tooth preparation exercises. J Dent Educ. 2017;81:597–603. https://doi.org/10.21815/JDE.016.015.CrossRefPubMed

29.

Welk A, Splieth C, Seyer D, Rosin M, Siemer M, Meyer G. German dental faculty attitudes towards computer-assisted simulation systems correlated with personal and professional profiles. Eur J Dent Educ. 2006;10:87–95. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0579.2006.00401.x.CrossRefPubMed

30.

Hugger A, Hugger S, Kordass B. Dental education in Germany: new concepts for the dental curriculum. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2011;54:1046–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-011-1328-8.CrossRefPubMed

31.

Holman SD, Wietecha MS, Gullard A, Peterson JM. U.S. dental students’ attitudes toward research and science: impact of research experience. J Dent Educ. 2014;78:334–48.PubMed

Title: Undergraduate dental students’ perspective on the implementation of digital dentistry in the preclinical curriculum: a questionnaire survey
Authors: Maximiliane Amelie Schlenz
Karin Michel
Kerstin Wegner
Alexander Schmidt
Peter Rehmann
Bernd Wöstmann
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Prosthodontics
Published in: BMC Oral Health / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6831
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-020-01071-0

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Undergraduate dental students’ perspective on the implementation of digital dentistry in the preclinical curriculum: a questionnaire survey

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2020

Occurrence and quantification of Anelloviruses and Herpesviruses in gingival tissue in Chinese Shanghai sub-population

A new method for assessment of nickel-titanium endodontic instrument surface roughness using field emission scanning electronic microscope

Topical povidone iodine inhibits bacterial growth in the oral cavity of patients on mechanical ventilation: a randomized controlled study

Self-reported oral health problems and the ability to organize dental care of community-dwelling elderly aged ≥75 years

Effects of subgingival air-polishing with trehalose powder on oral biofilm during periodontal maintenance therapy: a randomized-controlled pilot study

Accuracy of different tooth surfaces on 3D printed dental models: orthodontic perspective