IADR Abstract Archives
Dental Hand Skills Using Dental Operating Microscopes and Magnifying Loupes
Objectives: To compare the quality of dental hand skills using dental operating microscopes (DOM) at X5-X8 magnification in comparison to using conventional dental loupes at X3 magnification.
Methods: Following university ethics approval, 10 dental student volunteers and three instructors prepare shapes similar in dimension to tooth preparations using dental simulation units.
For the available DOMs in Simlab in dental school, two magnifications , X5 and X8 are used with DOMs and X3 magnification is used with dental loupes.
First, operators will get sufficient training on DOMs prior to conducting the study in order to familiarized them with the use of DOMs. Then, the operator makes three preparations in the maxillary anterior region using a measured acrylic block. Photos of the different aspects of preparations are then taken, saved and analyzed using Image J specifications.
An evaluator will perform the evaluations using Image J image processing program without knowing the identity of operators. Evaluators will enter one digit number for each aspect of the preparation (2 indicates superior, 1 sufficient and 0 poor) as determined by magnitude of deviance from the intended preparation shape. The data will then be compiled and statistically analyzed.
Results: Preliminary data showed similar accuracy between loupes and DOM at X3 and X5 magnification respectively. However, there is an indication that accuracy is enhanced at higher DOM magnifications, although this accuracy may cause longer procedure time. In this case, there may be a critical point at which accuracy gain due to higher magnification is outweighed by increased procedure time.
Conclusions: Dental operating microscopes could help increase the accuracy level of completed preparations. However, the extent to which it does may depend on the magnification level it is set to.
Methods: Following university ethics approval, 10 dental student volunteers and three instructors prepare shapes similar in dimension to tooth preparations using dental simulation units.
For the available DOMs in Simlab in dental school, two magnifications , X5 and X8 are used with DOMs and X3 magnification is used with dental loupes.
First, operators will get sufficient training on DOMs prior to conducting the study in order to familiarized them with the use of DOMs. Then, the operator makes three preparations in the maxillary anterior region using a measured acrylic block. Photos of the different aspects of preparations are then taken, saved and analyzed using Image J specifications.
An evaluator will perform the evaluations using Image J image processing program without knowing the identity of operators. Evaluators will enter one digit number for each aspect of the preparation (2 indicates superior, 1 sufficient and 0 poor) as determined by magnitude of deviance from the intended preparation shape. The data will then be compiled and statistically analyzed.
Results: Preliminary data showed similar accuracy between loupes and DOM at X3 and X5 magnification respectively. However, there is an indication that accuracy is enhanced at higher DOM magnifications, although this accuracy may cause longer procedure time. In this case, there may be a critical point at which accuracy gain due to higher magnification is outweighed by increased procedure time.
Conclusions: Dental operating microscopes could help increase the accuracy level of completed preparations. However, the extent to which it does may depend on the magnification level it is set to.