Digital assessment of biological material loss in teeth following preparation by dentists of varying experience levels

Abstract

Background: This study examined how different levels of clinical experience affect the amount of dental material removed during tooth preparation. It used a digital volumetric method to measure deviations from the ideal preparation objectively. Methods: A master model with typodont teeth (#46) was used to create 40 samples divided into four groups (n=10) based on operator experience: Group 1 included fourth-year undergraduates; Group 2, fifth-year undergraduates; Group 3, PhD students in Prosthodontics; and Group 4, prosthodontic specialists with over five years of practice. Standardized full crown preparations were performed on phantom heads, and 3D scans were obtained with an intraoral scanner. Volumetric deviations from the ideal were analyzed with VRMesh Studio, focusing on buccal, distal, mesial, occlusal, and palatal surfaces. Data involved Kruskal-Wallis, ANOVA tests, and comparisons of preparation durations among groups. Results: The results showed significant differences in material loss on the occlusal surface, especially in Group 2 (−0.575 ± 0.83 mm³, p < 0.05), compared to buccal (−0.126 ± 0.42 mm³) and lingual (−0.2 ± 0.39 mm³) surfaces. Preparation times varied significantly between the most experienced (Group 4: 7.99 ± 1.41 min) and least experienced (Group 1: 45.44 ± 10.47 min) (p < 0.05). All groups showed excessive reduction compared to the master model. Conclusions: The level of education affected the amount of tooth structure removed and preparation time. Less experienced students, though slower, produced outcomes closer to ideal, highlighting the importance of precision-focused training in prosthodontics.