Evaluation of the use of a guided bur during preclinical teaching of tooth preparation: A pilot study

OBJECTIVES: An innovative calibrated bur, aiming to improve precision during reduction of the incisal edge, was recently proposed to guide practitioners during tooth preparation. However, limited information is available concerning its usefulness in dental preclinical education. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether using this innovative guided bur improves learning experience quality and the performance of students during tooth preparation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After having provided written consent, 60 second‐year students were divided into two groups. One group used a 1‐mm rounded bur to perform depth grooves, whereas the second group used the innovative guided bur, consisting in a 2‐mm‐depth marker with a stopping surface. Once the grooves were obtained, they were then connected using the same wheel bur in both groups. The aim was to obtain a final 2‐mm reduction of the incisal edge. Quality of the learning experience (stress level, motivation to restart, self‐evaluation of the preparation, and difficulty) was quantified using a visual analog scale. Duration of the procedure was also measured in both groups. 3D measurements for each tooth were performed using an STL comparison software. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in terms of stress and self‐evaluation of the preparation. Students in the guided bur group reported significantly lower perception of exercise difficulty (p < .001) and significantly higher motivation to restart the procedure (p < .001). The guided bur group performed the procedure in 16.4% less time than the rounded bur group. The use of the guided bur led to a 23% over‐reduction, whereas the use of the rounded bur led to a 10% under‐reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the present study shows that the guided bur provides significant improvement in the student's learning experience with increased motivation and decreased perception of difficulty. It shortens the duration of procedure performance, but it also induces a reduction in preparation accuracy.