Ferramentas de ensino na escultura dentária: modelos, recursos virtuais e interatividade

This study aimed to access students’ perception evaluating the usefulness of the Three-Stages Sculpture Geometric Technique and auxiliary tools to learn dental anatomy and the impact of this on their grades. Wax models and resources in the virtual environment, such as demonstration videos of carving technique, classes’ files, online tests, and forums were offered to two groups of students. Students’ perception was collected using a questionnaire. A comparison between their grades and the virtual resources’ frequency use was made; between the grades of the two groups and between theirs and those obtained by a third group, which did not use these tools. Students rated favorably the technique, the wax models, the videos and the other resources offered in a virtual environment. The models were considered more efficient as an aid to learning than were the videos, with a significant difference. There was no relation between the frequency to the videos and also to the other virtual resources offered, and the results in grades of the students of Group A and B. The mean grade of both Groups did not differ. There was a positive difference on final grade of Group B students who visited all the virtual resources offered compared with those that didn’t. The applied carving technique provided and facilitated learning of dental anatomy and the aid given by the models was more efficient. Interactivity seemed expendable to improve results in grades.