Evaluation of student performance in the four-year study of expanded functions for dental hygienists at the University of Iowa.

A comparison was made of the quality of selected operative and periodontal procedures completed by expanded-function dental hygiene and senior dental students. Each student group included 48 students selected from all academic quartiles of their respective classes. The evaluated operative procedures included a Class II preparation and amalgam restoration and a Class III preparation and composite restoration. Both operative procedures were completed twice, once on a patient and once on a Dentoform. The periodontal procedures were completed on patients and included a periodontal examination, a periodontal treatment plan, and one quadrant of root planing and soft tissue curettage. Three examiners independently rated each student's performance in an examiner-blind situation. Examiners judged numerous criteria for each procedure as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. In addition, an overall rating of excellent, clinically acceptable, or unacceptable was given to each procedure. Comparisons between student groups of the time required to complete procedures showed that dental students completed cavity preparations of all operative procedures and quadrants of root planing and curettage in significantly less time than did dental hygiene students. For restorations, periodontal examinations, and treatment plans, there was no significant difference between student groups in the time required to complete procedures. In general, the results of the study showed that the dental hygiene students were able to perform selected operative and periodontal procedures at a comparable level to that of senior dental students.