Frequency Of Iatrogenic Damage to the Adjacent Teeth During Abutment Preparation by Residents and House Officers of a Dental College of Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Abstract

Background

Iatrogenic damage in the process of crown preparation is related to the skill of the operator, and the awareness of the damage patterns can enhance the training and minimize the errors.

Objective
The objective of study was to evaluate the frequency, degree and type of unintentional damage occured to adjacent teeth during abutment preparation performed by House Officers and Residents

Methodology
The study was cross-sectional nature (July 2024-July 2025) and it assessed 161 dental casts in Rehman college of dentistry through visual examination and magnification. The information about the degree and type of damage was put on a structured proforma and processed using SPSS 23. Calculations were made of means, standard deviations, frequencies and percentages and the chi-square test was used to determine the relationship between operator experience and damage (p < 0.05).

Results
House Officers were more affected in terms of average damage (M = 1.86) compared to Residents (M = 0.81), and Residents were slightly more averagely damaged in terms of type (M = 2.06). Most common were abrasion (42.9%) and nicks (36) with 21.1% bearing no damage. Damage related to magnification was common (37.9%). The level of operator had a significant correlation with damage (p < 0.001).

Conclusion
House Officers were more damaging to procedures than the Residents. The majority of damages  were minor such as abrasions and nicks. The experience of operators also had a great impact on the patterns of damage, and it is necessary to have better supervision and formal clinical education.

Keywords.    Abutment Preparation, Iatrogenic Damage