Abstract
Abstract Training on basic clinical skills in pre-clinical practice is indispensable for the development of clinical practice. The mirror technique (MT) is an effective skill for treating difficult-to-see areas and is important for implementing minimal intervention (MI). However, it is necessary to establish a method of teaching the MT because it is not easy for students to learn. This study investigated the effect of the mesial or distal position of the dental mirror (DM) on the accuracy of cutting test circles assuming caries by using the MT for trainee dentists.
Twenty-three trainee dentists at Niigata University Medical and Dental Hospital in 2023 were instructed to cut a standardized test circle on the palatal side of the upper right artificial central incisor based on minimal intervention using the MT. They performed trial cutting one time at each of three different mirror positions, distal, mesial and middle, fixed with thread, after cutting practice. The cutting range and depth of the cavity were measured using digital images and STL data of the artificial cutting teeth. The time for the cutting trials and the cavity checking numbers were also measured. These parameters were compared.
As a result, excessive cutting range and the time for the cutting trials were larger for the distal mirror position than the other mirror positions. In addition, the distal mirror position showed variations in cutting depth depending on the cutting site and caused loss of stability. It seems that with the distal position it was more difficult for the trainee dentists to see the cutting target than with the other positions. These results suggest that when using the MT the position of the DM affects the accuracy of cutting the upper right central incisor test circles assuming caries.
