Correlation between theoretical knowledge and the difference between self‐ and teaching doctor‐assessment

Objectives The right intuition for self-assessment without overestimating or underestimating oneself compared to theoretical knowledge is a skill that requires conscious practice and is very often paradoxically opposed to the level of knowledge. Self-assessment is an essential skill for dental professionals for lifelong learning and improvement. The objective of our study was to assess the correlation between theoretical knowledge and the difference between self- and teaching doctor-assessment. Methods The app “digital course organizer” for organization and assessment was used for the self- and teaching doctor-assessment of students for each day of patient treatment during the clinical courses at a university hospital. The difference between the self- and teaching doctor-assessment was compared to the score of an initial theoretical written test at the beginning of the eighth semester to assess the correlation between overestimation or underestimation and theoretical knowledge. Results A total of 309 dental students over four semesters in the clinical study phase (fourth and fifth years; eighth and 10th semesters) participated in the investigation. The overall view of all values showed very low correlations (<0.2) of the assessment difference values of both practical courses for the initial written test. Conclusion There were very low correlations between the initial written test (theoretical knowledge) and the difference between self- and teaching doctor-assessment as well as no evidence of overestimation and underestimation

The Effect of Different Storage Media on Color Stability of Self-Adhesive Composite Resin Cements for up to One Year

The aim of this study was to analyze the long-term color stability of eight self-adhesive composite resin cements (SACRCs) after storage in diverse media for up to one year. 480 discs (diameter: 12 mm/thickness: 1.0 +/- 0.05 mm) were fabricated (n = 60/SACRC): (1) BeautyCem (BEA);(2) Bifix SE (BIF);(3) Clearfil SA Cement Automix (CLE);(4) RelyX Unicem 2 Automix (RXU);(5) SeT (SET);(6) SmartCem 2 (SMC);(7) SoloCem (SOC);and (8) SpeedCEM (SPC). After polishing, specimens were immersed in (a) red wine (RW);(b) curry-solution (CU);(c) cress-solution (CR);and (d) distilled water (DW) at 37 degrees C and measured after 7, 28, 90, 180, and 365 days for color differences (Delta E) and water absorption (WA). Non-aged specimens were used as baselines. After 365 days, all of the discs were polished and their Delta E was measured. Data were analyzed using Kolmogorov-Smirnov, partial-eta-squared/eta(2)(P), 3-/1-way ANOVA with Tukey-HSD post-hoc test (alpha = 0.05). Significant differences occurred between all SACRCs for WA (p <= 0.003), except in RXU and in SET and in Delta E (p <= 0.002), except in SET and SPC. The significantly highest WA presented in SOC;the lowest showed in BEA. Significant Delta E differences and a decrease after polishing between all storage media were found (p < 0.001) with highest values for RW, followed by CU, CR, and DW. The lowest Delta E was measured for CLE, followed by SOC, BIF, RXU, BEA, SPC, SET, and SMC (p < 0.001) and increased significantly during aging. The highest Delta E decrease presented in BEA. SACRCs showed an increase in WA/Delta E within total aging time. Discoloration could not be removed completely by polishing. SACRCs need to be carefully selected for restorations in the esthetical zone with visible restoration margins. Polishing can significantly reduce the marginal discoloration

Oral health-related impact profile of patients treated with fixed, removable, and telescopic dental prostheses in student courses — a prospective bicenter clinical trial

Objectives!#!To analyze the oral health-related impact profile in patients treated with three different types of dental prosthesis in student courses.!##!Materials and methods!#!This prospective bicenter clinical trial was conducted with 151 patients being treated with fixed (n = 70), removable (n = 61), or telescopic dental prostheses (n = 20) in clinical student courses of two German universities from October 2018 to October 2019. All patients completed three standardized German versions of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G49/53) before prosthetic treatment (T0), at control after 1 week (T1), and after 3 months (T2), divided into five dimensions: (a) appearance, (b) oral function, (c) psychosocial impact, (d) linguistic limitations, and (e) orofacial pain. Data were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Wilcoxon signed-rank, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Cronbach's alpha tests.!##!Results!#!Within T0-T1 and T0-T2, greater improvements were determined for removable compared with fixed dental prostheses for the dimensions' oral function (p ≤ 0.014), linguistic limitations (p ≤ 0.016), and appearance (p ≤ 0.003). No significant differences were found between fixed and telescopic dental prostheses (p ≥ 0.104) or between removable (partial dental prosthesis with clasps and complete dental prosthesis) and telescopic dental prostheses (p ≥ 0.100). Within T1-T2, a significant improvement in orofacial pain could be determined (p = 0.007).!##!Conclusions!#!Restorations presented an improvement in oral health-related quality of life. Removable dental prostheses showed better improvement than fixed ones in various dimensions.!##!Clinical relevance!#!Knowledge about the influence of oral health-related quality of life on the three different types of prosthesis used in student courses can be of decisive help in dental consultations

First evaluation of an app to optimize and organize the processes and assessments in dental clinical courses

Background Digital teaching and learning tools, such as computer/mobile apps, are becoming an important factor in modern university education. The objective of our study was to introduce, analyze, and assess an organization and dual assessment app for clinical courses in dental medicine. Methods This was a survey-based study of dental students from the clinical study phase (4th/5th year; 8th/10th semester) of a department of prosthetic dentistry at a German university hospital about the benefits of a novel web-based and mobile app for organization and dual assessment of dental clinical courses. A total of eight questions were answered in an anonymous online survey. Data were analyzed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, followed by an exploratory data analysis (α < 0.05). Results The app was given an average grade of 2.4, whereby 56.9% of the respondents rated the app with a grade of 2 (2 = good). In all, 94.6% of the study participants had not experienced any technical problems when using the app. Concerning the assessment, teaching doctor assessment (51.5 [IQR: 44.0]) was rated significantly better (p = 0.002) than self-assessment (39.5 [IQR: 32.8]). Conclusions This investigation evaluated a newly introduced app to optimize dental clinical course workflows and assessment. The organizational feature was rated as good, while the daily self- and teaching doctor assessments were evaluated as less important. The results outline how the use of app technologies can provide an infrastructure for managing organization and daily assessments in dental education

Impact of polishing system on surface roughness of different ceramic surfaces after various pretreatments and bracket debonding

Objective Evaluating various polishing methods after bracket debonding and excessive attachment material removal for different ceramics and pretreatments. Material and methods Zirconia (ZrO2), leucite (LEU) and lithium disilicate (LiSi) specimens were pretreated with a) silica coated alumina particles (CoJet); LEU and LiSi additionally with b) hydrofluoric acid (HF), c) Monobond Etch&Prime (MEP), d) silicium carbide grinder (SiC) before bracket bonding, shearing off, ARI evaluation, excessive attachment material removal and polishing with i) Sof-Lex Discs (Soflex), ii) polishing paste (Paste), iii) polishing set (Set). Before/after polishing surface roughness (Ra) was measured with a profilometer. Martens hardness parameter were also assessed. Results Irrespective of pretreatment Ra of LEU increased the most, followed by LiSi and ZrO2 (p < 0.001, SiC: p = 0.012), in accordance with the measured Martens hardness parameter. CoJet/SiC caused greater roughness as HF/MEP (p < 0.001). The ZrO2 surface was rougher after polishing with Paste/Set (p < 0.001; p = 0.047). Ra improved in the LEU/CoJet, LEU/SiC and LiSi/SiC groups with Soflex/Set (p < 0.001), in the LiSi/CoJet and LEU/HF groups by Soflex (p = 0.003, p < 0.001) and worsened by Paste (p = 0.017, p < 0.001). Polishing of HF or MEP pretreated LiSi with Set increased Ra (p = 0.001, p < 0.001), so did Paste in the LEU/MEP group (p < 0.001). Conclusions Paste couldn’t improve the surfaces. Soflex was the only method decreasing Ra on rough surfaces and not causing roughness worsening. Polishing of LEU/LiSi after MEP, LEU after HF pretreatment doesn´t seem to have any benefit. Clinical Relevance To avoid long-term damage to ceramic restorations, special attention should be paid to the polishing method after orthodontic treatment

A pattern of care analysis: Prosthetic rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients after radiotherapy

Background While some medical associations provide guidelines for the implant‐prosthetic rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients, the circulation and implementation in the everyday routine of practicing dentists remain unknown. Purpose To analyze patterns of care for the prosthetic rehabilitation of head and neck cancer patients after radiotherapy in German speaking countries. Materials and methods An online survey consisting of 34 questions separated into three sections, (a) general inquiries, (b) treatment concepts, and (c) patient cases, was forwarded to university hospital departments for Prosthetic Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, and members of different medical associations. Statistical differences between groups were analyzed using chi‐squared test (P < .05). Results From May to October 2019, 118 participants completed the survey. The majority practiced in university hospitals, had more than 5 years of work experience, and reported to be involved in <10 post radiation prosthetic rehabilitation cases per year. Rehabilitation protocols involving dental implants were implemented by oral/oral‐ and maxillofacial surgeons and prosthetic dentists, while general dentists favored implant‐free solutions. Xerostomia was recognized as a common problem for a successful prosthetic rehabilitation. The subsequent treatment choice with either fixed dental prostheses or removable dentures was divided among participants. Conclusions As treatment planning differed with regard to the participants' field of expertise and work environment, and most practitioners only handle a low number of cases, patients might benefit from centralization in larger institutes with a multidisciplinary structure. A high agreement between the practitioners' treatment concepts and the current state of research was observed. While the choice between a mucosa‐ or tooth‐supported, and an implant‐supported restoration depends on numerous individual factors, guidelines derived from longitudinal studies would enhance evidence‐based treatment in this field