Online colour training system for dental students: a comprehensive assessment of different training protocols

Degree of Standardisation in Ceramic Gingival Systems

No gingival shade guide exists that can be used as a 'gold standard' in gingival shade selection. This research, therefore, aimed to determine whether comparable results in subjective gingival shade selection can be achieved using basic gingival colours produced by distinct manufacturers. It also aimed to explore how coverage of the colour space is affected by mixing these basic colours to create additional shades. To achieve these objectives, the basic gingival colours of three ceramic systems (Heraceram, Kulzer, Madrid, Spain; Vita VM9, Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany; IPS Style, Ivoclar, Schaan, Liechtenstein) were analysed. The colour systems were expanded by creating porcelain gingival samples, whose colours were obtained by mixing the basic colours, altering each mixture by increments of 10%, and respecting the numerical order used by manufacturers to identify the colours. The colour coordinates of the basic and additional colours were recorded using spectrophotometry, and the intra- and inter-system colour differences were calculated using the Euclidean (ΔEab) and CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) formulae. None of the basic colours in the three systems, despite their similar nomenclature, were found to be interchangeable (the colour differences exceeded the gingival acceptability threshold: ΔE00 2.9 units). The expanded gingival colour systems, with mixtures altered by 10% increments, notably increased the gingival colour space covered by the original systems. The authors concluded that there are clear differences between the basic gingival colours produced by distinct manufacturers using the same nomenclature. Ceramic samples produced by mixing basic gingival colours are a resource with the potential to improve subjective gingival shade matching.

Online dental teaching practices during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional online survey from China

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in China in December 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic hindered dental education, as school buildings were closed. Online dental teaching provided an alternative teaching tool for dental education. However, the efficiency of online dental teaching and student preferences for online dental teaching are unclear.

Aim

To investigate the satisfaction with online dental teaching practices among undergraduate dental students and standardized resident physician training students during the COVID-19 pandemic in China.

Methods

A total of 104 undergraduate dental students and 57 standardized resident physician training students from Zhejiang University participated in the study. A 12-item survey was conducted. This investigation included the teaching methods received, frequency of classes, degree of satisfaction, preferred teaching method, whether to participate in a course regarding COVID-19 prevention, and the effects of teaching. The percentages were then calculated and evaluated for each item.

Results

A total of 161 students (104 undergraduate dental students and 57 standardized resident physician training students) participated in this survey. All students had online dental classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lecture-based learning (LBL), case-based learning (CBL), problem-based learning (PBL), team-based learning (TBL), and research-based learning (RBL) were selected as teaching methods. Students were more satisfied with LBL and CBL than PBL, RBL, and TBL. The majority of students had more than four classes per week. The most selected protective measures were hand washing, wearing masks, and wearing gloves. A total of 46.6% of students participated in courses on COVID-19. After training, the students consciously chose to wear face shields and protective clothing.

Conclusions

Dental students accepted online dental learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students preferred LBL and CBL and were satisfied with the classes. Courses on COVID-19 helped students understand how to prevent COVID-19 transmission in the dental clinic.

An analysis of an educational method to improve the shade-matching ability of dental students

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

The predoctoral dental curriculum includes didactic lectures, demonstrations, and training on shade-matching techniques and protocols. However, a significant percentage of esthetic failures are still observed clinically. An assessment is required to determine whether reevaluation and modification of this training protocol would help future dental practitioners better perceive and communicate the dental shade.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental students' knowledge of and skill in shade selection and effective prescription writing before and after educational training with 3 different shade guides.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Thirty predoctoral dental students (interns) who had completed their academic program and were undergoing clinical training were selected. After excluding color vision deficiency, the study participants were first asked to evaluate the shade of the right maxillary central incisor of 5 patient participants by using 3 different shade guides (Vitapan Classical, Vitapan 3D-MASTER, Chromascop) under standardized conditions. They were then asked to write an esthetic prescription, communicating the shade to a dental laboratory technician. A dental faculty member evaluated the baseline control shade for each participant, and a standardized prescription format was written. This was used as a reference by a dental laboratory technician to score the intern's prescription as clear, unclear, poor, or illegible. After the assessment, focused small group learning with lectures, clinical demonstrations, and case-based discussion was provided to the interns on shade assessment over 10 to 15 days. All the interns were reassessed for their visual shade perception and prescription writing after a month's interval. The mean percentage agreement, mean percentage shade match, and mean color difference between the shade selected and the control shade for each of the 5 participants, with all 3 shade guides, were evaluated along with the prescription scoring before and after the educational training. Statistical comparison of before and after values were made by using the paired-sample z-test for percentage agreement versus disagreement among the interns for the shade selected, paired t test for mean percentage agreement, mean percentage shade match, and mean color difference. The repeated measure ANOVA test was used for the prescription scorings (α=.05).

RESULTS

A significant difference in prescription scoring (P<.001) was observed. A significant difference in the percentage shade match (P<.01) for all 3 shade guides and mean percentage agreement for Chromascop and Vita 3D-MASTER (P<.05) were observed. A nonsignificant mean color difference between the shade selected by the intern and the baseline shade was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

A significant difference in prescription scoring was observed after training, along with a higher percentage shade match and percentage agreement. This indicated a need to reconsider the educational training provided for dental shade assessment and communication and to implement better protocols in the dental curriculum.

Evaluation of small-group education on the shade determination ability of preclinical dental students-A controlled clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effect of small-group education including practical training on dental students' shade determination performance compared with a control group.

METHODS

Sixty-three non-colour-blind preclinical students were asked to participate and belonged to an intervention (n = 31) and a control (n = 32) group, respectively. All students received a lecture on dental shade determination. The members of the intervention group were educated and practically trained in small groups in addition. Ten volunteers, each with unrestored upper right middle and lateral incisors, were recruited. The students of both the intervention and control groups were then asked to determine the colour of the volunteers' test teeth using the 3D-Master shade guide (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) under artificial daylight illumination. For analytical purposes, the CIE L*a*b* coordinates were obtained using a spectrophotometer. Colour differences, ΔE, between all shade tabs selected by the students and the natural teeth were calculated. ΔE observed in the intervention and control groups were compared using t tests. In addition, a multi-level regression model was adjusted for age and gender.

RESULTS

Mean (SD) ΔE between the shade tabs selected by the students and the natural teeth in the intervention and control groups were 3.8 (2.1) and 4.3 (2.3), respectively (P < .001). The effect of group membership was reproduced in multivariate analysis whereas age and gender did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

With more intensive education and practical training the ability to perform clinical shade determinations improved for students without previous clinical experience. The results obtained support the idea of implementing thematic small-group education in the dental curriculum.

Study of the most frequent natural tooth colors in the Spanish population using spectrophotometry

PURPOSE

To identify the most frequent natural tooth colors using the Easyshade Compact (Vita -Zahnfabrik) spectrophotometer on a sample of the Spanish population according to the 3D Master System.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The middle third of the facial surface of natural maxillary central incisors was measured with an Easyshade Compact spectrophotometer (Vita Zahnfabrik) in 1361 Caucasian Spanish participants aged between 16 and 89 years. Natural tooth color was recorded using the 3D Master System nomenclature. The program used for the present descriptive statistical analysis of the results was SAS 9.1.3.

RESULTS

The results show that the most frequent dental color in the total sample studied is 3M1 (7.05%), followed by the intermediate shade 1M1.5 (6.91%) and 2L1.5 (6.02%).

CONCLUSION

According to the research methodology used, and taking into account the limitations of this study, it can be proposed that the most frequent color among the Spanish population is 3M1; the most common lightness group is 2; the most frequent hue group according to the 3D Master System is M and the most frequent chroma group is 1.5.