Abstract

Objective To investigate the effect on the undergraduate learning process of using an alternative method designed to enhance the visual demonstration of taper on full veneer crown preparations (better understanding of the value of taper on preparations early in the teaching programme in restorative dentistry).

Design A comparison between the conventional teaching of full veneer crown preparations and the same teaching with the additional use of a magnified real time video display using a surgical microscope was investigated in this study.

Outcome measures The degree of taper was measured for replica full crown preparations and results compared between different cohorts of undergraduates and experimental conditions.

Result Undergraduates taught using the real time video produced more accurately tapered preparations. This ability was retained over one year.

Conclusions A possible explanation for the result was that the use of magnification improved the undergraduates' precise understanding of taper by enhancing their ability to evaluate this critical measurement during the teaching process.

1. Senior Lecturer, Consultant in Conservative Dentistry, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Schools of Medicine and Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences, The Dental Institute, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9RS.
2. Lecturer in Medical Electronics, Department of Medical Engineering and Physics, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Bessemer Road, London SE5 9RS

Correspondence to: Correspondence to name and address.