Enhancing Tooth Reduction Skill in Fixed Prosthodontics Using Case-Based Learning Among Dental Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract Background: Developing proficiency in tooth preparation is a primary objective in undergraduate dental education. Traditional teacher-centered lectures are often used to impart a significant volume of information to a large number of students. In contrast, Case-Based Learning (CBL) offers an interactive, student-centered approach designed to utilize real-life clinical scenarios to promote deeper understanding and reflective thinking. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of CBL compared to traditional lecture-demonstration methods in enhancing the foundational knowledge and practical tooth reduction skills of dental students in fixed prosthodontics Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Faculty of Dentistry, Tanta University, involving 60 second-year dental students. Participants were assigned to an experimental group (n=30) receiving four weekly 90-minute CBL sessions and a control group (n=30) receiving traditional lectures and clinical demonstrations. Outcomes were measured using a 10-item multiple-choice pre-test and post-test for knowledge, and technical performance was evaluated using a validated analytic rubric to score tooth preparations on typodont models. Results: Baseline pre-test scores showed no significant difference between the two groups (P=.753), indicating comparable initial knowledge. Following the intervention, the CBL group achieved a significantly higher mean score on the post-test (9.17 ± 1.02) compared to the control group (7.73 ± 1.96). Furthermore, the CBL group demonstrated superior practical performance with a significantly higher mean score (33.9 ± 2.68) than the control group (28.83 ± 1.84). Conclusion: CBL significantly enhances both foundational knowledge and practical tooth reduction skills compared to traditional teaching methods. These findings support the integration of case-based interactive activities into the preclinical dental curriculum to better prepare students for clinical practice Trial registration: Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07393724, registered on 6 February 2026 (Retrospectively registered).