Challenging the arbitrary cutoff score of 60%: Standard setting evidence from preclinical Operative Dentistry course.

INTRODUCTION: This paper conducted standard setting (SS) (Angoff and Hofstee methods) to determine cutoff scores for summative examinations and to compare the derived passing levels to the existing fixed passing score of 60% in the Faculty of Dentistry at King Abdulaziz University. METHODS: Historic performance data for final examinations in preclinical Operative Dentistry course were used by four raters to conduct both Angoff and Hofstee methods to determine the cut off scores for three academic years (2012, 2013, and 2014). RESULTS: Both methods yielded higher than 60% cut off scores for each year. For the first examination of academic year 2012, the cutoff score was 64.75, while it was 63.5 for year 2013, and 66.75 for the last academic year of 2014. Hofstee scores were 64.5, 65.25, and 62.25 consecutively for years 2012 through 2014. CONCLUSIONS: Using Angoff or Hofstee methods, yielded higher than the fixed 60% passing score currently used by the dental school. The use of Angoff method alone is encouraged as there were limitations to using the Hofstee method to determine the cut off score. This finding provides preliminary support to use evidence-based SS methods to determine the cutoff score for the whole Dentistry program.

Evidence-based dentistry for planning restorative treatments: barriers and potential solutions.

INTRODUCTION: Evidence-based dentistry (EBD) can help provide the best treatment option for every patient, however, its implementation in restorative dentistry is very limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed at assessing the barriers preventing the implementation of EBD among dental undergraduate and graduate students in Montreal, and explore possible solutions to overcome these barriers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted by means of a paper format self-administrated questionnaire distributed among dental students. The survey assessed the barriers and potential solutions for implementation of an evidence-based practice. RESULTS: Sixty-one students completed the questionnaire. Forty-one percent of respondents found evidence-based literature to be the most reliable source of information for restorative treatment planning, however, only 16% used it. They considered that finding reliable information was difficult and they sometimes encountered conflicting information when consulting different sources. Dental students had positive attitudes towards the need for better access to evidence-based literature to assist learning and decision making in restorative treatment planning and to improve treatment outcomes. Even for dentists trained in EBD, online searching takes too much time, and even though it can provide information of better quality than personal intuition, it might not be enough to identify the best available evidence. CONCLUSIONS: Even though dental students are aware of the importance of EBD in restorative dentistry they rarely apply the concept, mainly due to time constraints. For this reason, implementation of EBD would probably require faster access to evidence-based knowledge.

Statistical errors in microleakage studies in operative dentistry. A survey of the literature 2001-2009.

The aim of this study was to assess the literature on microleakage of direct restorations in operative dentistry indexed in the ISI Web of Science, in order to assess the robustness of the statistical methodology used. Our database included 226 scientific papers (published between 2001 and 2009 in 22 journals) from the journal citation report categories 'Dentistry, Oral Surgery and Medicine' and 'Materials Science, Biomaterials'. We reviewed all articles to find potential mistakes that are commonly made at different stages in the scientific research process. Microleakage was assessed quantitatively in 50 (22.2%) studies and qualitatively in 176 (77.8%) studies. In all studies reviewed the statistical methods used were appropriate for the category attributed to the outcome variable, but in 13% of the total, the chi-square test or parametric methods were inappropriately used afterwards. When the appropriate statistical methods were applied in studies that had originally employed inappropriate methods to analyse their data, and in which the authors provided raw data, an alteration of the conclusions was necessary in 15.4% of these re-analysed studies. This survey also showed that the statistical methodology applied varies considerably for similar experimental designs. This could have an effect on statistical results; hence, a more standardized methodology should be implemented.

[Consensus recommendations from Chinese experts on the standard operation procedure of dental operative microscope in endodontics and operative dentistry].

Dental operative microscope has been wildly used in endodontics and operative dentistry for many years. Many progresses have been made by using operative microscope in improving the outcomes of root canal therapy, endodontic surgery and operative dentistry. However, in clinical practice, improper use of the dental operative microscope is not uncommon, the reason related to which is the operator's lack of understanding and mastering not only the properties but also the standard operative procedure of the dental operative microscope. To this end, in October 2019, the vice chairman of the Society of Cariology and Endodontology, Chinese Stomatological Association, professor Liang Jingping, organized a group of professional experts in this field, convened a meeting about the standard operative procedure of dental operative microscope. Experts at the meeting had a very heated discussion and the consensuses were reached.

Assessing likelihood of using the Bruininks-Oseretsky test of motor proficiency to predict preclinical performance of dental students.

Objective: The acquisition of motor skills is a key competency for the practice of dentistry, and innate abilities have been shown to influence motor performance. Thus, finding the most efficient manual dexterity tests may predict performance of dental students. The current study used the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, to assess motor skills of first year (D1) and second year (D2) dental students. Materials and methods: Three fine motor subsets of the BOT-2-fine motor precision, fine motor integration, and manual dexterity-were administered to D1 and D2 dental students in 2017 and 2018. The BOT-2 subset scores of D1 students were compared with those of D2 students, who had preclinical dental experiences. For D2 students, we tested for correlations between BOT-2 subset scores and performance scores in a preclinical operative dentistry course. Results: No differences were found between D1 and D2 students for any BOT-2 subtest scores (all Ps > .09). No correlations were found between total scores of each BOT-2 subtest and the operative dentistry course for D2 students (all Ps > .20). Conclusions: Our results suggested the BOT-2 was not predictive of manual skills of dental applicants or preclinical dental students. Although we assumed students would perform well with instruction, practice, and feedback, we were unable to determine whether innate abilities influenced acquisition of manual dexterity skills. More research about the acquisition of technical clinical skills in dentistry is required.

Clinician assessment of guidelines that support common dental procedures.

Many common clinical dental procedures do not have high-quality clinical guidelines available. Clinical guidelines are considered an important tool for applying the evidence-based concept to dental practice. The main objective of this study was to assess if current clinical guidelines that are easily available to dental practitioners in electronic databases support common dental procedures. In addition, a useful model for the assessment of the quality of the guidelines is presented. The results of a literature search demonstrated a lack in both the number and quality of clinical dental guidelines that support common dental procedures. Nine selected guidelines were assessed using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation instrument (AGREE). Following the AGREE recommendation, only one guideline could be considered for use in dental practice. Four guidelines were also considered for use in practice, but they would need some alteration in their contents. The last four guidelines did not achieve a good score and therefore could not be considered for use in dental practice. In conclusion, more high-quality dental guidelines should be developed to support common dental procedures using standardized quality criteria in order to appropriately implement the evidence-based process into dental practice. Furthermore, the AGREE instrument may help dental practitioners objectively assess the quality of clinical guidelines.

Is it cost-beneficial to society? Measuring the economic worth of dental residency training.

This study estimated whether continued programming of a highly specialized four-year dentistry residency training in Saudi Arabia was cost-beneficial. We utilized a purposive sampling to administer a survey to trainees in major cities. Additionally, we used publically available market information about general practitioners. We employed Benefit-Cost Analysis accounting approach as a conceptual framework. Using general practitioners as the base category, we grouped overall social analytical perspectives into resident trainees and rest of society. The residency program was cost-beneficial to trainees, realizing an estimated return of SR 4.07 per SR 1 invested. The overall societal return was SR 0.98 per SR 1 invested, slightly shy of a bang for the buck, in part because the public sector largely runs the training. Benefits included increased earnings and enhanced restorative dentistry skills accruing to trainees; increased charitable contributions and programming-related payments accruing to programs and the public; and practice-related payments accruing to governmental, professional, and insurance agencies. Rest of society, notably government underwrote much of the cost of programming. A sensitivity analysis revealed the results were robust to uncertainties in the data and estimation. Our findings offer evidence to evaluate whether continued residency training is cost-beneficial to trainees and potentially to overall society.

Expert performance on a virtual reality simulation system.

The objective of this research was to determine if the essence of expert performance could be captured on a virtual reality simulation system. Six experts in operative dentistry, six experts in periodontology, and six novice dental students performed a Class II tooth preparation task on the lower left second premolar. All subjects performed a pre-test to assess the basic skill level of each group. During the (limited) training component of the study, the three groups practiced three tooth preparations and received augmented feedback. At both a one-minute and one-day interval, subjects performed a final test in the absence of augmented feedback. All preparations were graded by the simulation system. The results showed at pre-test a significantly better performance of the experts in operative dentistry as compared to the novices. During the practice (acquisition) phase, the experts in operative dentistry outperformed both the periodontologists and novices, whereas the experts in periodontology performed more accurately than the novices. After one minute and one day following practice, similar results were obtained. Retention performance was most accurate after a one-day delay. Based on these results, the simulator appears to be a valid and reliable tool to capture expert performance. It is an effective screening device for assessing the level of expert performance.

How to integrate CAMBRA into private practice.

The traditional dentistry approach treated the disease with a limited surgical strategy aimed at removing carious lesions on teeth. Today, the dental profession is refocusing its efforts to include risk assessment with evidence-based diagnosis while also treating the biofilm component of the disease. While there is compelling science to support CAMBRA, there are fewer articles with practical direction regarding how to integrate CAMBRA diagnostics and treatment into clinical practice, which this article addresses.

Development and Assessment of Discrimination Exercises for Faculty Calibration in Preclinical Operative Dentistry.

The aims of this study were to identify the level of interexaminer agreement among preclinical operative dentistry faculty members when grading Class II preparations performed by first-year dental students; to develop discrimination exercises for specific preparation components where interexaminer agreement was poor; and to evaluate if the discrimination exercises were able to improve inter- and intraexaminer agreement. In the preliminary phase of this study, 13 components of 32 Class II cavity preparations were assessed by eight course faculty members at one U.S. dental school. Analysis of average interexaminer agreement on these components revealed that six were below 60%. These were proximal contact clearance, retention groove placement, retention groove depth, preparation walls, preparation margins, and preparation toilet/debris. A 30-minute calibration session was subsequently developed to provide discrimination exercises utilizing 3-D models and digital images of various levels of student performance for five of the six components. Immediately following calibration, the course faculty assessed the same 32 preparations (Phase I) followed by a delayed assessment without calibration (Phase II) approximately six months later. The results showed that overall interexaminer reliability improved after calibration. Although there was a decline in interexaminer reliability after an interval of six months (Phase II), the degree of variation among examiners was lower than in the preliminary assessment. These findings support the use of discrimination exercises for preclinical operative dentistry course faculty to increase interexaminer agreement and thereby improve the consistency of faculty-student communication.

[A trial for standardization reform in composite resin restoration teaching].

PURPOSE: To establish a standard system of composite resins restoration in dental undergraduate education. METHODS: The modern phantom system was improved. A step-by-step operating manual with large amount of photographs and contents was set up, and multimedia tools were used simultaneously. A set of standardized operative procedures and detailed score evaluation system were established. Questionnaires were used to assess students' satisfaction in the reform. Then the survey results were statistically analyzed by Fisher exact test with SPSS 18.0 software package. RESULTS: The students' satisfaction about the education of composite resin restoration were improved (P<0.001). This reform helped to deepen students' comprehension of the theories and standardize their manipulation. CONCLUSIONS: The establishment of a standardized teaching procedure is beneficial to improve the quality of dental undergraduate education in composite resin restoration.

Evaluation of quandrant dentistry in provision of dental care.

The chairtime required for a single Class I or Class II amalgam restoration at 163 sittings was compared with the chairtime required for 99 cases in which two restorations in a quandrant were treated at the same sitting. The "Quadrant Dentistry Efficiency Rate" was calculated and it was found that quadrant dentistry resulted in a saving of between 30% and 50% of chairtime. The individual speed of the three dentists treating the children did not greatly influence the percentage of chairtime saved.

Evaluating undergraduate preclinical operative skill; use of a glance and grade marking system.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the intra- and inter-examiner variability of a panel of examiners using a 'glance and grade' marking system when assessing Class II preparations. METHODS: The examination panel consisted of five university staff with varying clinical and teaching experience. The panel assessed 75 disto-occlusal preparations suitable for restoration with dental amalgam prepared in extracted human premolar teeth. The majority of the preparations were cut by undergraduates in their preclinical year of study and the remainder by an experienced staff member. The panel were blind to the identity of each operator. RESULTS: The study revealed a high degree of both intra- and inter-examiner variability, with some preparations being given a pass on one occasion and a fail on another and vice-versa. In addition, some of the panel, perhaps assuming that the practical exercise had been prepared entirely by undergraduates, were reluctant to award good grades. CONCLUSIONS: The study has highlighted the need for better staff training and a more comprehensive system of assessing preclinical skills.

The effect of a training program on the reliability of examiners evaluating amalgam restorations.

There have been long-term problems in establishing agreement among clinical and preclinical examiners in dentistry. The purpose of this study was to develop a training program and study its effect on examiner agreement when judging the clinical service ability of amalgam restorations. Ten examiners with varying backgrounds, levels of experience, and no previous training with methods to standardize clinical evaluation evaluated 44 amalgam restorations in 17 patients before and after a brief training session. The restorations were judged as either acceptable (leave alone), or unacceptable (replacement or alteration required). The training program was brief and consisted of the introduction of a rating scale with descriptive criteria, followed by a clinical session where the examiners practiced using the rating scale and criteria to arrive at operational decisions. Intraexaminer and intraexaminer agreement were calculated for both evaluation sessions. The training program improved the reliability of the examiners evaluating the clinical service ability of the amalgam restorations. Although the gain was not to the level commonly accepted in the literature, it clearly demonstrates a step in the right direction.