Evaluation of tooth preparations for Class II cavities using magnification loupes among dental interns and final year BDS students in preclinical laboratory

BACKGROUND: With the advances in optical technology, dentistry has been benefitted in varied ways over the ages. AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of dental magnification loupes on psychomotor skill acquisition during preclinical operative exercise. METHODS: 40 Typhodont teeth tooth no. 36 and 46 (Frasaco - U.S.A.) were mounted on the acrylic lower jaw base of Phantom Head. Teeth are prepared for class II (MO) cavity with conservative design using micromotor, mouth mirror and probe. Tooth no.36 was prepared using magnifying loupes while tooth no.46 was prepared without the loupes. Data collected was statistically analyzed using Chi square test. RESULTS: The results revealed that tooth preparations were better under magnifying loupes as compared to those without it with statistically significant difference with Kappa value 0.64 for samples with loupes and 0.76 for without loupes. Moreover, the study samples expressed their difficulty for using the magnifying loupes during the tooth preparation since they were using it for the first time. CONCLUSIONS: Magnifying loupes help the dental students to have better vision, thus improved dexterity with hands while preparing the tooth for restoration. However, dental students have to get adapted to the loupes for the ease of using loupes. Using loupes frequently may help them to get adapted to the loupes.