Introduction. The technology-enhanced learning and simulation-based learning are critically important pedagogic tools. They allow students to perfect their preclinical training by improving their skills and their manual dexterity while facilitating the acquisition of the know-how necessary for reproduction more realistically and faithfully of the behaviors required for a better dental practice. Retention is one of the mechanical fundamental principles of preparation of cemented fixed prostheses. It depends on several factors including the convergence of the axial walls. The undercut must be sparing in the reduction of tissue volume to obtain a low degree of convergence and a sufficient height of the preparation to comply with the retention and stabilization requirements of the prosthetic element. A draft value of 6° was recommended initially, but a range extending up to 16° has been accepted according to Weed et al. and Dodge et al., as being clinically achievable while providing good retention. Are students able to reproduce, in preclinical, total occlusal convergence (TOC) angles recommended on typodont and simulator? Objective. The evaluation of the TOC of the preparations made on typodont and simulator by the students in the 3rd year of the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Casablanca (FDMC). Material and Methods. A total of 140 dental preparations for cast crowns and metal-ceramics made by thirty-five 3rd year FDMC students were scanned by using the IDENTICA HYBRID optical scanner. The STL files were read by the 3D-TOOL-FREE software, two images were extracted for each preparation using the screen capture tool, and the two mediodistal (MD) and buccolingual angles (BL) were measured by the MB-RULER software. The statistical data were analyzed using the SPSS, software and comparisons were made by Student’s t-test. Results. An overall average of 11.99° ± 4.48 was recorded for the preparations on the typodont with 11.40° ± 5.09 in the MD direction and 12.58° ± 4.74 in the BL direction. Concerning the simulator preparations, we recorded an overall average of 11.31° ± 4.16 with 10.81° ± 4.29 in the MD direction and 11.80° ± 5.44 in the BL direction. No significant difference was observed when comparing the preparations made on the typodont and the simulator. A percentage of 68.6% and 74.3% of the preparations made on the typodont and the simulators respectively fall within an acceptable range of 6 to 16°. Discussion. The TOC values achieved by the majority of students correspond to the recommended values which are 6 to 16° on average. The results of the simulator preparations are similar to the results of Marghalani for dental students at King Abdulaziz University, and Tiu et al., at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Conclusion. This study highlighted the difference between what is taught in dental schools, which is theoretically possible, and the academic results of actual practice. The generally recommended 6° tapers have proven difficult to achieve for many dental students. A margin of 6° to 16° of TOC angle is clinically achievable and allows sufficient retention. We can retain that most of the sample of our study had values that fall within the recommended range.

Introduction : La faculté de médecine dentaire de Casablanca (FMDC) accueille chaque année une centaine de titulaires de baccalauréat scientifique, selon un mode de sélection purement cognitif basé sur une présélection par ordre de mérite et sur les performances aux épreuves écrites portant sur quatre matières scientifiques. Objectif : Documenter l’évolution des profils des étudiants admis selon cette modalité d’admission. Méthodes : Une enquête descriptive rétrospective a été réalisée à la FMDC. Un formulaire a été utilisé pour collecter les données sociodémographiques et académiques des nouveaux inscrits sur une période de 10 ans depuis l’année académique 2006/2007. Les données nécessaires ont été fournies par le service des affaires étudiantes ou via un contact téléphonique lorsque les données étaient incomplètes. Résultats : Sur dix ans, le nombre total d’étudiants inscrits était de 1263 dont 7,3 % représentés par des étrangers. Il y avait une forte prédominance féminine et 70,3 % des étudiants avaient un niveau socio-économique moyen. La plus grande proportion de personnes admises (71,1 %) avait été inscrite sur la liste d’attente. Le pourcentage des admis ayant réussi au baccalauréat avec la mention très bien est passé de 30,8 % en 2006/2007 à 97,8 % en 2015/2016. Le nombre d’étudiants issus du système public était en diminution continuelle au profit de ceux issus d’établissements privés. Conclusion : Cette étude révèle une tendance constante à la féminisation de la dentisterie parmi les futurs dentistes, une plus grande sélectivité dans l’accès à la FMDC, une prédominance des étudiants inscrits sur la liste d’attente, un niveau socio-économique majoritairement moyen ce qui n’est pas forcément représentatif de la population et de ses besoins. Une révision profonde de la procédure de sélection en vigueur devrait viser à affiner et diversifier les critères d’admission, apprécier la capacité potentielle à faire de la médecine dentaire et favoriser l’égalité des chances.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to evaluate the efficacy of midazolam as a means of conscious sedation in pediatric odontology through three routes of administration: oral, rectal and nasal administration, to compare the efficacy of these different routes and to assess the general safety of Midazolam. Materials and Methods: Thirty healthy non-cooperating (ASAI) patients (levels 1 and 2 on the FRANKL scale), aged 2 to 5 years and requiring a minimum of three dental sessions were recruited. Each patient received three sessions of sedation, using a different route of administration each time: oral (0.5 mg/kg), rectal (0.3 mg/kg) and nasal (0.2 mg/kg). The assessment of the behavior throughout the dental care was made using the Houpt scale. Physiological parameters(heart rate and oxygen saturation) were measured every five minutes to assess tolerance. Results: The three routes of administration of midazolam were considered effective since all patients presented a behavior allowing a complete management without interruption of care except for one patient. The sedative effect of the oral and rectal routes was similar, as to the nasal route, it was judged to be clinically better but without any statistically significant differences. The most accepted route of administration by patients was the oral one followed by the nasal and rectal routes. No intolerance to midazolam was observed. Conclusion: Midazolam is an effective sedative for dental care, acceptable by patients and well tolerated regardless of the route of administration.

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In pediatric dentistry, intra oral periapical radiography is a useful or even indispensable diagnostic aid before any treatment and therefore an essential part of pre-doctoral training. A study was carried out among the students in the process of completing their thesis at the Faculty of Dental Medicine of Casablanca (FMDC), with the objective of determining their abilities and aptitudes as well as their weaknesses and limitations with regard to the interpretation of a periapical radiograph taken in children. The present study involved a sample of 30 students randomly selected and assembled in a room willing to fill out survey forms and shown a POWER POINT presentation of periapical radiographs. The results showed that 83.3% of the students were able to identify technical pitfalls, 93.3% were able to recognize oral anatomical structures, and 96.7% were able to detect carious and traumatic pathology on the radiographic images. However, some deficiencies were reported such as the ability to identify certain anatomical traps such as the maxillary sinus and the chin hole as well as the ability to detect apical complications of dental pathology. In order to remedy the observed weaknesses and to strengthen the students' skills, it is necessary to revise the teaching methods and to make available new technical means.