(PO17) Training Endodontic Access Cavity Preparation Using Typodonts and Simodont Dental Trainer: A Comparison of Student Performance and Acceptance

Abstract: Endodontic access cavity preparation necessitates key motor and visualization skills, which are traditionally learned using mannequin (typodont) based plastic or natural teeth. Simodont^® (Nissin, NL) is a virtual reality haptic handpiece, offering learners an alternative means for simulation and training. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of learners trained to prepare access cavities incorporating the use of Simodont. Forty pre-clinical dental students, with no prior endodontic training, were given theoretical and visual instruction on access cavity preparation of tooth #19. They thereafter prepared an endodontic access cavity on typodont #19. This provided a baseline assessment. Participants were randomly assigned to either the typodont (TG) or Simodont group (SG). The TG were trained using typodont #19 teeth for a period of 1 hour with instructor feedback. Equivalent practice time and feedback were provided for SG participants who used Simodont for access preparation #19. Subsequently, both groups prepared an access cavity on a typodont-based tooth #19. This provided the re-evaluation assessments. Two examiners graded the baseline and re-evaluation assessments using rubric criteria. They were blinded as to which group the evaluated teeth belonged to. The improvements in performance, from initial to re-evaluation, were determined by calculating grade increases. No statistically significant difference between SG and TG was found (p = 0.27). The intraexaminer and interexaminer agreements were Kappa 1 and 0.73 values, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating Simodont for access cavity training. Simodont seems to be a valid adjunct to conventional typodont-based simulation.