EFFECT OF ENDODONTIC INSTRUMENT HANDLE DIAMETER ON OPERATOR PERFORMANCE

A phantom head simulator was used by 30 dental students to determine t he effect of instrument handle diameter on the time taken to complete a manipulative task, No significant differences were found for handles between 2.5 and 5 mm diameter, Almost one-third of the participants t hought that gloves were a hindrance, and it was considered that ''glov e wrap,'' where layers of glove roll over one another, might be a prob lem with small handles, Despite these subjective reports, the students performed no better without gloves when using the 2.5 mm handle.