Students' perceptions of knowledge reinforcement on indirect prosthetic dental material choices by a translational approach

Purpose/objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate students' perceptions of the reinforcement of knowledge via innovative, case-based, hands-on learning regarding indirect prosthetic material choice.

Methods: Six different clinical cases that represented common prosthetics were used in this simulation training. In each case, clinical pictures were associated with three-dimensional (3D)-printed replicates of final restorations and PolyJet polychromatic models with the goal of enabling students to deliberate and exchange ideas in small groups. After a debriefing session regarding the therapeutic potentialities of the first three cases alongside teachers, a lecture concerning prosthetic material choices was provided, and a zirconia crown was stained by each student to enable them to obtain a better understanding of the dental technician profession. Finally, the latter three cases were studied and analyzed in the same manner. The students' perceived reinforcement of knowledge was recorded before and 1 month after the hands-on simulation training experience, and their satisfaction was evaluated immediately thereafter on Likert scales. Students' perceived reinforcement of knowledge was subjected to statistical evaluation.

Results: A high level of overall satisfaction was observed (4.60). All of the items pertaining to students' satisfaction received scores >3. One month after this hands-on approach, students' confidence in their ability to choose a material on the basis of its mechanical, optical, and luting properties increased significantly (from 2.58 to 3.64; from 2.83 to 3.64; and from 2.72 to 3.58, respectively) (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: This innovative, hands-on approach had a significant positive effect on students' perceived reinforcement of knowledge.