The evaluation of manual dexterity with the increasing professional experience in dentistry students and academicians in front of mirror.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the manual dexterity in front of the mirror in dentistry students and academicians with their increasing professional experience. The O'Connor Tweezer Dexterity Test was applied directly and indirectly in front of the mirror with a total of 72 participants, who were grouped according to their professional experience (5th grade dentistry students considered zero experience, academicians under 5 years experience and academicians with 5 years and over experience), by considering completion times. The participants whose personal information is recorded; Anthropometric measurements were made with a tape measure, hand grip strength with a hydraulic hand dynamometer, finger grip strength with a finger pinchmeter, and joint range of motion measurements with a goniometer. SPSS 23.0 package program was used for statistical analysis of the data. In comparison of categorical variables, Chi-square test and Fischer's Precision Test, independent student t-test in paired groups conforming to normal distribution and One-way ANOVA tests in more than two groups were used. Right hand grip strength (p <0.001) and left hand grip strength (p <0.001) of all male participants were found to be significantly higher than that of women. It was observed that the indirect (in front of the mirror) test times of male participants among all participants included in the study, were significantly higher than the times of female participants (p = 0.001); but there was no significant difference between the genders in the direct test times (p> 0.05). As the years of professional experience of all participants increase, the duration of direct testing significantly decreases (p <0.05). It was observed that the average values of direct test (p = 0.031) and indirect test duration (p = 0.028) of the participants in the 5th grade were higher than the average values of academicians with 5 years and over experience (p <0.05). According to the findings of the study, it was found that manual dexterity increased with increasing professional experience, and especially female participants were more successful in direct manuel dexterity test, regardless of the groups. The study carried out shows that especially professional skills can improve with increasing practical applications.