A comparison of mount of preparation and finish lines used by dental students in Damascus University and Al Baath University using (CAD/CAM) scanner

INTRODUCTION: Fixed prosthodontics is considered one of the most vital dental treatments that patients receive. Sometimes, however, complication is encountered along with limited information regarding the quality and precision of preparation. Which that led to the conception of this study in order to highlight the shortcomings and obstacles in an attempt to avoid them. This study aims to evaluate the quality of preparation by students of the faculty of dentistry in Damascus University and Al-Baath University by assessing the finish lines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The specimen of this study consists of 244 prepared abutments divided into two groups: the first group consists of 122 clinically prepared abutments conducted by fifth year students in Damascus University. The second group consists of 122 clinically prepared abutments conducted by fifth year students in Al-Baath University. The specimen also consists of gypsum casts containing replicas of the clinically prepared teeth in addition to the primary casts. All casts – primary casts and post preparation casts – were collected and 3D scans were conducted to each abutment – before and after preparation – and a 3D image was acquired. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS v.26 (IBM, USA) with a P-Value of 0.05. RESULTS: The preparation with a simple finishing line at Al-Baath University was 103% greater than it with a statistically significant difference at 56% at Damascus University, by 38%, and the percentage of preparation with a semi-shoulder finish line at Al-Baath University was 5% and at Damascus University was 3% without there being a statistically significant difference Between the two universities, the percentage of preparation with a shoulder finish line in Al-Baath University 14% was lower by a statistically significant difference than in Damascus University 63% by 40% (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The percentage of preparation with a simple finishing line at Al-Baath University was 103% greater than it with a statistically significant difference at 56% at Damascus University, by 38%, and the percentage of preparation with a semi-shoulder finish line at Al-Baath University was 5% and at Damascus University was 3%.