Role of computer-based learning in tooth carving in dentistry: An Indian perspective.

Tooth carving is an important practical preclinical exercise in the curriculum in Indian dental education setup. It forms the basis of introduction to tooth anatomy, morphology and occlusion of primary and permanent teeth through practical approach. It requires enormous time and manpower to master the skill. Therefore, there is an imminent necessity to incorporate computer-based learning of the art of tooth carving for effective teaching and efficient student learning. This will ensure quality time to be spent on other academic and research activities by students and faculty in addition to adding value as a teaching aid.

Tooth carving through wax blocks is a mandatory preclinical exercise for undergraduate and postgraduate students to perform according to the dental curriculum in India. It requires enormous training time and manpower to teach the 1st year undergraduate students as they enter fresh into the course without any previous knowledge of dentistry at the school level. Hence, it takes quite some time for them to achieve dexterity and fluency in learning the art of carving teeth from wax.

All students have different learning styles and differing learning needs.[1] Fleming described four sensory modalities: Visual (V), aural (A), reading/writing (R), and kinesthetic (K).[12] Disparity between the teaching method and learning style may directly affect the performance and output of the students.[1]

Considering most of the colleges in India with postgraduate teaching, the faculty is also involved in research work which also requires quality time to be devoted. Hence, in the present day era of internet revolution and multimedia technology advancements, it is the need of the hour to blend traditional teaching with technological adjuncts. Additionally with recent ease in access and availability, it is possible to blend technology with education.

Nance et al. have shown in their study that computer assisted instructions can present material in new and innovative ways while allowing students to learn at their own pace. It has the advantage of allowing the students to review the methodology and technique multiple times as compared to the traditional instructor-directed learning. It also has the potential to reduce the faculty workload and allow them to utilize the time for doing quality research work. The demonstrations can be recorded at a convenient time by faculty and may be repeatedly shown to the students which allow conservation of time and resources.[3]

Bogacki et al. have shown the utility of software-based learning to teach the anatomy of the adult dentition. The software-based teaching along with interactive class meetings has augmented the traditional teaching based on students' positive feedback.[4]

Such teaching aids may also be useful to teach other parts of the curriculum such as differences in morphology of primary and permanent dentition, chronology of dentition, stages of dentition, and internal tooth anatomy. Hence, it is the need of the hour to incorporate computer-based learning in the preclinical exercise of tooth carving for undergraduate students for effective teaching and efficient student learning.

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Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.