Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42021285›Full record

Trial reportBMC oral health2026

Improvement of learner's preclinical skill in occlusal rest seat preparation using digital and conventional training.

Phuong Thai Nguyen, Hung Trong Hoang, Chau Tran Bao Vu, Anh Thi Nguyet Nguyen, Tri Minh Doan

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialComparative Study
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC oral health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Phuong Thai NguyenDepartment of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Hung Trong HoangDepartment of Dental Public Health, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Chau Tran Bao VuDepartment of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Anh Thi Nguyet NguyenDepartment of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Tri Minh DoanDepartment of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. dmtri@ump.edu.vn.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDigital learning tools play a crucial role in fostering innovation and shaping the experiences of student in dental education. This study aimed to compare the improvement, if any, in students’ preclinical performance in occlusal rest seat preparation across three repeated practical sessions using digital and conventional training methods.

methodsA total of 80 fourth-year dental students participated in the study. Following the initial didactic course, students were randomly assigned to either a Conventional group (CG; n = 40) or a Digital group (DG; n = 40). Each student performed occlusal rest seat preparation on the left mandibular second premolar across three repeated sessions. During these sessions, the CG received traditional instructor feedback, whereas the DG received digital feedback via the pedagogical Dental Teacher system and Exocad software. All preparations were digitized and evaluated by a dental digital expert. Each occlusal rest seat was assessed using six component scores corresponding to six weighted criteria, along with an overall score (ranging from 0 to 4 points). Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model.

resultsThe overall scores for occlusal rest seats improved significantly across the three sessions in both the CG and DG (p < 0.001). In the CG, scores increased from 2.61 ± 0.46 to 2.77 ± 0.29 and 3.04 ± 0.37, while in the DG, scores rose from 2.69 ± 0.37 to 2.86 ± 0.31 and 3.18 ± 0.28. However, the improvement did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.611). Among the six evaluation criteria, shape, width, length, and smoothness improved significantly over the sessions (p < 0.05), whereas depth and angle did not show significant changes (p > 0.05). No significant group–session interaction was observed for any criterion (p > 0.05).

conclusionBoth groups demonstrated significant improvement across repeated practice sessions, with no statistically significant group–session interaction. These findings suggest that both digital and conventional training delivered over multiple sessions may support the development of preclinical skills in occlusal rest seat preparation.

Indexed as

Clinical CompetenceComputer-Assisted InstructionEducation, DentalFemaleHumansMaleStudents, DentalConventional trainingDigital softwareImprovementOcclusal rest seat preparationPreclinical skill

Identifiers

PMID42021285
PMCPMC13270682

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.