Following permission from institutional ethics committee the study will be initiated. The procedural steps are given in Figure 1. All  the students (n=12) who have consented to participate in the study will be given an introductory lecture about Class IV cavity restoration via PowerPoint Presentation followed by demonstration. At the end of the demonstration, the scoring guide  will be explained  for evaluation of restoration to the students  as well as evaluating faculty. Inter-examiner agreement will be calculated before initiation of the study.

During the first session, all students  will execute Class IV cavity preparation (described by Sturdevant) in the typodont maxillary central incisor tooth of the articulated jaw model (Nissen study model) using the cavity preparation armamentarium. Using a handpiece (API micromotor handpiece)with a diamond bur, class IV cavity will be prepared on the tooth creating a bevel on the incisal angle. Then  application of 37% phosphoric acid etchant (Septodont) to the prepared cavity and the bevelled edges will be done for about 30 seconds. Then etchant will be rinsed off with water and gently the tooth will be dried . Then application of  the bonding agent (Tertic N-Bond)to the etched surface. After gently air-thin the bonding agent to evaporate the solvent, it will be  light-cured for 20 seconds. Then placement of  the composite resin(Ivoclar Teratic N- Cream) in increments will be done. After  placing the first increment at the palatal aspect to form the lingual contour. Then using a Mylar strip and wedge proximal wall and contour  will be built with composite resin ensuring  a smooth finish. The composite resin will be placed  in small increments, shaping the tooth’s anatomy with each layer.  The facial surface will be built, making sure to recreate the natural contours and incisal edge. Each increment will be light cured for 20 seconds. Finishing and polishing will be carried out using disks (Shofu Super Snap Xtreme)  to give final contour  for the restoration, ensuring that the anatomical form is replicated followed by polishing to achieve a smooth and glossy surface, blending the composite resin with the natural tooth surface. Throughout the  exercises, students will perform the procedure independently.

Following  cavity restoration, students will be given an assessment sheet to enter their  scores (SA1). All teeth will be collected, labelled, and evaluated by both the grading faculty members in a blinded manner, and the average of their scores (from both the faculties) was considered the final score [Faculty Assessment Score 1 (FA1)]. These scores (SA1, FA1) will be treated as a baseline performance because they represented the student’s first experience in a practical class .Each participant will be  explained the difference in their respective SA1 from FA1 and their queries will be resolved individually by the faculty. Students will  prepare the cavities and restore them in the next 2 more sessions. Evaluation of students’  as well as  faculty members’  scores will follow the same protocol as previous ones. All the scores will be  recorded as SA2, FA2,SA3,FA3 and  tabulated on an Excel sheet and statistical analyses will be done .