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An Analysis of Abilities Underlying Early Periodontal Skill Development of Dental Students

Karoline B. Waldman

Gayle MacDonald

University of Southern California

Although a wide variety of underlying abilities important to dental skill learning have been investigated, there has been little agreement among dental researchers about which of these abilities are really significant. The purpose of this study was to discern if any of the commonly examined fine motor ability tests or any maturational characteristics were associated with early scaling and root-planing skills, which are dental skills used for treating gingivitis. One hundred twenty freshman dental students were subjected to a battery of maturational measurements and motor ability tests that other investigators had associated with dental skill development. This study suggests that the width of the wrist and the length of the first finger may be of some importance in the development of the early dental skills, scaling and root planing. However, most tests used in this study did not adequately explain the abilities underlying scaling and root-planing skills. Further studies should examine other abilities in relation to specific dental skills and the relationship of abilities to early and late skill development.

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