Abstract
Abstract The mirror technique (MT) is a useful skill for operating in difficult-to-see areas and is considered to be an essential basic dental skill. However, the acquisition of MT is not easy for inexperienced learners. Therefore, the authors aimed to develop an effective method for teaching MT for inexperienced dentists and described the drilling of dental caries using MT in their first and second reports. In contrast to the previous report focusing on trainee dentists (TDs), in the present study the same experiment was conducted as in the second report on instructor dentists (IDs). The proficiency in cutting accuracy was examined by comparing experienced IDs with inexperienced TDs.
Using the same conditions as in the first and second reports, the excessive cutting range, largest cutting depth, mean cutting depth, number of checking times and cutting time were used as the evaluation parameters. The proficiency in cutting accuracy was examined by comparing IDs with TDs on the designated four cutting areas (incisal, cervical, mesial and distal) and finger rest (FR) position.
As a result, regarding each of the excessive cutting range, largest cutting depth and mean cutting depth, IDs showed superior cutting skills compared with TDs. In addition, regarding FR for the upper right canine, IDs checked the drilling cavity more frequently than TDs. Thus, it was revealed that IDs cut more carefully than TDs under difficult drilling conditions.
It is suggested that the proficiency of MT skills improves through clinical experience, and the position of FR affects the cutting accuracy. Furthermore, improved MT skills would cover minor errors of FR position to some extent under these experimental conditions.
