Are Thiel Cadavers a Better Model for Teaching Exodontia to Dental Undergraduates?

Objectives: The objective was to determine whether the Thiel embalmed cadavers were perceived to be an improved model for the teaching of exodontia by the undergraduates.

Methods: From 2011 to 2013 second year undergraduates were randomly assigned into two groups, those taught traditionally using mannequins followed by observation of patient treatments and those who additionally attended cadaveric teaching at the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID).

Results: In total 128 students of the 219 attended CAHID. Feedback was collected from 69 students (54%) and 100% had no moral or cultural objection to using cadavers. The majority (98%) thought using the cadavers was advantageous, gave a realistic feel for soft tissue management (89%) and felt it was similar to managing a patient (81%). Compared to a mannequin they felt that the cadaver offered a greater challenge (78%) but was not as challenging as treating a real patient (95%). No difference was found in self-reported confidence at exodontia between those that attended CAHID and those that did not. No one who attended CAHID failed their clinical exam and the failure rate was 3%, 7% and 6% in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

Conclusions: The use of Theil cadavers was well received by the students who found it a more realistic model for exodontia. Future work on these cadavers may be expanded to include surgical procedures thus better preparing our undergraduates.