An insight into the clinical learning environment of dental institutes: a study in the twin cities of Pakistan.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the perceptions of dental students regarding their clinical learning environment in an urban setting. METHODS: This descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted from March 2020 to May 2021 after approval from the ethics review committee of Islamic International Dental College, Islamabad, Pakistan. It comprised of clinical year students, house officers and postgraduate trainees from 6 dental teaching hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Data was collected using a pre-validated instrument assessing the dental clinical learning environment. Data was analysed using SPSS 24. RESULTS: Of the 1030 students approached, 561(54.4%) responded. Of them, 448(80%) were girls, 234(41.7%) were 3rd year students, 110(19.6%) were 4th year students, 120(21.4%) were house officers and 97(17.3%) were postgraduate trainees. Female students had a better patient attitude and were more confident in their abilities to keep up with their peers (p<0.05). The students were content with the performance of their clinical teachers, with a mean score of 70.99+/-16.0, while the lowest score of 54.67+/-22.9 was for clinical infrastructure and materials. Students of Islamabad pointed out the lack of clinical materials and maintenance of equipment but noted better research opportunities compared to their Rawalpindi counterparts (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical learning environment for Islamabad and Rawalpindi cities individually was good. Overall, students were satisfied with their clinical teachers, learning and training experience. Dental materials, infrastructure and maintenance factors scored the lowest.

Ensino da Odontologia Legal nos cursos de graduação em odontologia do estado de Santa Catarina e suas implicações / Teaching Forensic Dentistry in undergraduate dentistry courses in the state of Santa Catarina and your implications

A Odontologia Legal é uma área de conhecimento importante para a formação de profissionais mais conscientes e pautados em princípios éticos e legais. O presente estudo objetivou verificar se as escolas de Odontologia do Estado de Santa Catarina se adequaram às diretrizes sugeridas pela ABOL, por meio de análise documental do projeto pedagógico de curso (PPC), matriz curricular e/ou ementa de disciplinas. Das 18 IES com graduação em odontologia de Santa Catarina, 14 disponibilizaram a documentação de interesse do estudo. Todas as 14 ofertam disciplinas que abordam conteúdo de Deontologia e Diceologia e Orientação Profissional e 13 ofertam a disciplina de Odontologia Legal em seus currículos. Na maioria das IES as disciplinas têm carga horária abaixo das 60h recomendadas. As disciplinas que tratam de Deontologia e Diceologia e Orientação Profissional são ofertadas, antes das práticas clínicas em 36% das IES. Em 79% das IES a disciplina de Odontologia Legal é ofertada nos períodos finais da graduação. O estudo mostra que nenhuma IES de SC conseguiu adequar completamente seus currículos às diretrizes propostas pela ABOL e ABENO

Forensic Dentistry is an important area of knowledge for training professionals who are more aware and based on ethical and legal principles. The present study aimed to verifies whether the schools of Dentistry in the State of Santa Catarina have complied with the guidelines suggested by ABOL, through documental analysis of the pedagogical project of the course (PPC), curricular matrix and/or course syllabus. Of the 18 HEIs with a degree in dentistry in Santa Catarina, 14 provided documentation of interest to the study. All 14 institutions offer courses that address the content of Deontology and Professional Ethics and 13 offers the discipline of Forensic Dentistry in their curricula. In most HEIs, subjects have a workload below the recommended 60 hours. Disciplines dealing with Deontology and Diceology and Professional Guidance are offered before clinical practices in 36% of HEIs. In 79% of the HEIs, the discipline of Forensic Dentistry is offered in the final periods of graduation. The study shows that none of the HEIs in SC managed to completely adapt their curricula to the guidelines proposed by ABOL and ABENO

Avaliação do nível de conhecimento de acadêmicos de Odontologia sobre fotopolimerização / Evaluation of the knowledge of dental students on light curing

O sucesso clínico de materiais resinosos é dependente de uma adequada polimerização. Diversos materiais fotoativados são utilizados frequentemente nas clínicas-escola de Odontologia. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o nível de conhecimento dos acadêmicos do 10º período de Odontologia do Centro Universitário Maurício de Nassau, Recife/PE,sobre fotopolimerização, por meio de questionário. Os dados foram tabulados e analisados por meio de estatísticas descritivas, teste Qui-quadrado de Pearson e teste Exato de Fischer, com nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). Os resultados demonstram que 83,8%dos estudantesnão possuem fotopolimerizador, 72,9% não conhecem a potência do aparelho, 56,2% não sabem qual é a potência mínima ideal e apenas 8,5% sabem o nome do aparelho aferidor da irradiância / potência. Além disso, 48,5% não sabem o comprimento de onda ideal para fotoativação de resina composta e 69,2% desconhecemo tipo de aparelho que utilizam (monowaveou poliwave).Em relação ao tempo de fotopolimerização, 60,8% afirmaram utilizar20 segundos em resinas compostas convencionais e 38,5% utilizam por40 segundos em resinas compostas Bulk-fill. Embora 84,6% afirmem usar aparelhos fotopolimerizadores frequentemente, apenas 26,9% sabem a distância ideal da ponteira à restauração. Além disso, 51,5% relataram que fazem a limpeza e desinfecção com álcool 70GL e 45,4% usam barreira plástica. Nesse contexto, pode-se concluir que o nível do conhecimento dos acadêmicos em relação à fotopolimerização foi insatisfatório, exigindo uma abordagem e avaliaçãomais efetivaspara que os discentes tenham consciência da importância clínica deste procedimento e suas consequências (AU).

The clinical success of resin materials depends on adequate curing. Several light cured materials are frequently used in dental school clinics. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of students from the 10th period of Dentistry at Maurício de Nassau University Center, Recife/PE, about light curing, using a questionnaire. Data were tabulated and analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-square test and Fisher exact test, at a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). The results show that 83.8% of studentsdo not have a light curing unit, 72.9% do not know the device power, 56.2% do not know the ideal minimum power and only 8.5% know the name of the device that measures the irradiance/power. Also, 48.5% do not know the ideal wavelength for light curing of composite resin and 69.2% do not know the type of device they use (monowave or polywave). Regarding the light curing time, 60.8% stated they used 20 seconds in conventional composite resins and 38.5% used 40 seconds in bulk-fill composite resins. Although 84.6% stated that they use light curing units frequently, only 26.9% know the ideal distance from the tip to the restoration. Additionally, 51.5% reported performing cleaning and disinfection with 70GL alcohol and 45.4% use a plastic barrier. In this context, it can be concluded that the knowledge of students regarding light curing was unsatisfactory, requiring a more effective approach and evaluation so that the students may be aware of the clinical importance of this procedure and its consequences (AU).

Análise da odontologia legal como disciplina obrigatória nas grades curriculares das faculdades de Odontologia do Brasil / Analysis of Forensic Dentistry as a mandatory discipline in the curriculum degrees of Dentistry faculties in Brazil

Introdução: A Odontologia Legal é uma área que associa os conhecimentos odontológicos e jurídicos, sendo fundamental para a responsabilidade ética odontológica e legal no exercício da profissão. Objetivo: Verificar a presença da disciplina Odontologia Legal entre os cursos ativos de Odontologia no Brasil. Material e métodos: Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, observacional, descritivo e transversal. A população foi composta pelos cursos ativos de Bacharelado em Odontologia, por meio do portal do e-MEC, no qual foram obtidas todas as informações disponíveis através dos sítios eletrônicos institucionais. As grades curriculares foram analisadas, para verificação da presença da Odontologia Legal como disciplina, específica ou conjunta. Resultados: Constatou-se que dos 464 cursos ativos, a maioria era das regiões Nordeste (34%) e Sudeste (30%). De acordo com a distribuição dos cursos por Unidade Federativa, São Paulo e Minas Gerais representavam os estados com maior percentual, ambas com 13,8%. Apenas 378 (81%) cursos dispunham de Organização curricular disponibilizadas em sites. Destes, 86,8% apresentaram a inclusão da Disciplina Odontologia Legal em sua grade curricular, como preconizado pelas Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais de 2002. Conclusão: Observou-se que a maioria dos cursos ativos apresentava a inclusão da disciplina Odontologia Legal em sua grade curricular, sendo ofertada de forma conjunta e, na maioria dos casos, sua nomenclatura estava associada à Ética e Bioética, com carga horária média de 55,8 horas. Além disso, a maior ocorrência foi no oitavo período e como disciplina de caráter obrigatório.

Introduction: Forensic Dentistry is an area that associates dental and legal knowledge, being fundamental to the dental ethical and legal responsibility in the exercise of the profession. Objective: To verify the presence of the discipline Legal Dentistry among active dentistry courses in Brazil. Material and methods: This is a quantitative, observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. The population consisted of active Bachelor of Dentistry courses, through the e-MEC portal, in which all available information was obtained through the institutional websites. The curricula grids were analyzed to verify the presence of Legal Dentistry as a discipline, specific or joint. Results: It was found that of the 464 active courses, most were from the Northeast (34%) and Southeast (30%) regions. According to the distribution of courses by Federal Unit, São Paulo and Minas Gerais represented the states with the highest percentage, both with 13.8%. Only 378 (81%) courses had their curricular organization available on websites. Of these, 86.8% presented the inclusion of the discipline Legal Dentistry in their curriculum, as recommended by the 2002 National Curriculum Guidelines. Conclusion: It was observed that most of the active courses presented the inclusion of the subject Legal Dentistry in their curriculum, being offered together and, in most cases, its nomenclature was associated with Ethics and Bioethics, with an average workload of 55.8 hours. In addition, with greater occurrence in the in the eighth period and discipline is mandatory.

Simuladores en odontología y la formación de habilidades clínicas: un diálogo permanente / Simulators in dentistry and clinical skill training: a permanent dialogue

El avance tecnológico evidencia el gran desarrollo de los simuladores en la educación odontológica. Con el transcurrir de los años, el uso de simuladores como herramienta educativa para el logro de competencias en estudiantes de preclínica ha tenido una creciente incorporación en los planes de estudio. Por ello, el presente artículo tiene como objetivo revisar la historia de los simuladores en la educación odontológica e identificar las habilidades desarrolladas con el uso de simuladores en estudiantes universitarios de pregrado a nivel mundial. Al respecto, se realizó una búsqueda de artículos científicos indexados en bases de datos como Medline, Scopus, LILACS, SciELO, Google académico y Redalyc; se desarrolló la búsqueda bibliográfica hasta enero 2021 y se consideró las siguientes palabras clave: simulación, educación en odontología, estudiantes de odontología, educación basada en competencias. En los resultados se identificó cuatro etapas relevantes como una manera interactiva para explicar la historia de la simulación en odontología, cada una de estas etapas estuvo determinada por el impacto tecnológico de cada época, la necesidad de entrenamiento de los estudiantes y la integración en los planes de estudio. Con esta revisión, se concluyó que existe evidencia que el uso de simuladores durante la formación preclínica universitaria desarrolla habilidades en el estudiante de odontología, y que estas habilidades clínicas están relacionadas con el tipo de simulador usado durante su formación de pregrado.

Technological advance shows the great development of simulators in dental education. The use of simulators as an educational tool to achieve competencies in preclinical students has been increasingly incorporated into the study plans. Therefore, this article aims to review the history of simulators in dental education and identify the skills developed with the use of simulators in undergraduate university students worldwide. In this regard, a search was carried out for scientific articles indexed in databases such as Medline, Scopus, LILACS, SciELO, Academic Google and Redalyc; the bibliographic search was carried out until January 2021 and the following keywords were considered: simulation, dental education, dentistry students, competency-based education. In the results, four relevant stages were identified as an interactive way to explain the history of simulation in dentistry, each of these stages was determined due to the technological impact of each era, the need for training of the students and the integration into the study plans. It was concluded that there is evidence that the use of simulators during preclinical university training develops skills in dental students, these are related to the type of simulator used during their undergraduate training.

Undergraduate Dental Students' And Instructors' Perceptions About The Quality Of Clinical Feedback.

BACKGROUND: Feedback is an essential component of the clinical skills development of dental students. The clinical training is a complex integration of knowledge, psychomotor skills, behaviour and clinical communication skills under stress for both instructor and student. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of undergraduate dental students and their instructors on the quality of clinical feedback. METHODS: The current cross-sectional observational study was conducted at the Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Riphah International University, Islamabad from August to December 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect responses from final year undergraduate dental students and faculty. The questionnaire comprised of 13 items, subdivided into six categories, targeting the various aspects of clinical feedback. SPSS 23 was utilized to analyse the data. Descriptive statistics were tabulated and data was analysed using the Mann-Whitney test (p<0.05) for differences between the two cohorts. RESULTS: The mean age of the 64 students who responded was 24±0.8 years. Students' male to female ratio was 1:1.56, while for the 18 instructors the ratio was 1:1. Good agreement between the students and instructors was shown for items related to personal dignity and empathy. Moderate agreement was found for items covering the domains of time, understanding, comfort level, professionalism, and self-assessment. The disagreement was observed for the items associated with conflicting feedback, conflict satisfaction, and effective communication. CONCLUSIONS: Incongruousness existed between the dental students and instructors, about the quality of clinical feedback provided to the dental students. Communication between the instructors and learners must be promoted to increase the level of understanding of the feedback given by the clinical instructors.

Facultades de Odontología inclusivas. Estado del arte en Latinoamérica / Inclusive Dentistry faculties. State of the art in Latin America

Las personas con discapacidad son una población vulnerable y excluida de sus derechos como el ingreso, la permanencia y el egreso de la educación superior, especialmente de las facultades de Odontología en Latinoamérica. El objetivo de esta revisión es hacer una revisión de la literatura acerca de la inclusión educativa en las facultades de Odontología en América Latina. Se realizó unarevisión de la literatura nacional y latinoamericana al-rededor de los conceptos discapacidad, educación inclusiva y pregrados de Odontología, con fuentes primarias, secundarias y obras de referencia; entre las cuales se consultaron, libros, tesis y base de datos Medline, SciELO, Pubmed, Lilacs, Dialnet y Redalyc. Se concluyó que las facultades de Odontología están en mora y en deuda con las personas con (dis)capacidad en Latinoamérica por las dinámicas de la educación superior que siguen perpetuando la exclusión o la discriminación de personas con discapacidad en los pregrados de Odontología.

People with disabilities are a vulnerable and excluded population from their rights such as admission, permanence and graduation from higher education, especially from in Latin American dental schools. The objective of this review is to review the literature on educational inclusion in Latin American dental schools. A review of the national and Latin American literature was carried out on the concepts of disability, inclusive educa-tion and undergraduate dentistry using primary and secondary sources; among which, books, thesis and Medline, SciELO, Pubmed, Lilacs, Dialnet and Redalyc databases were consulted. It was concluded that dental schools are in default and in debt to people with (dis) ability in Latin America due to the dynamics of higher education that continue to perpetuate the exclusion or discrimination of people with disabilities in undergraduate dentistry.

Knowledge, Awareness, and Attitude Regarding Dental Implants among Dental Interns.

INTRODUCTION: Implant therapy is an elective dental procedure of dental rehabilitative treatment. Objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, awareness, and attitude of dental interns of Nepal toward dental implants and to see associations of the responses with gender and geographic location of dental college. METHODS: It was conducted from June 2016 to June 2017 after taking ethical clearance and approval from the research committee. The sample included the interns who were present at the time of the survey. Data collection was done through a cross-sectional questionnaire survey, during clinical postings of the interns at all the dental colleges of Nepal, supervised and monitored by the investigators themselves; coded and entered in Microsoft Excel 2013 and statistical analysis was done by SPSS 20 version. RESULTS: A majority of the interns said they are moderately well informed about dental implants 141 (50.36%); main advantage of dental implants is they are conservative 164 (58.6%); most important factor for implant success is case selection 143 (51.07%); the longevity of dental implants is 10-20yrs, 162 (57.85%), 188 (67.14%) agreed that they were not provided with sufficient information and 191 (68.21%) stated that they need more information; 180 (64.3%) felt the difficulty encountered while placing implants is average and 229 (81.78%) stated that they need more hygiene care than natural teeth. There were major differences in the mindset to some other questions. Significant associations were seen with the location of college for some responses. CONCLUSIONS: A majority of interns have knowledge regarding dental implants, but the percentage of those who gave unsatisfactory answers is also large. They have a positive attitude towards gaining more information through various means.

Dental Students’ Knowledge and Perception of Elderly in Relation to Geriatric Dentistry Training

Dental students need to be equipped with skills, knowledge and positive attitudes while providing dental care to the elderly. Reports from Ministry of Health Malaysia indicated that the prevalence of dental caries and periodontal disease was high among older people in the country. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and perception of final year dental students towards the elderly in relation to training of geriatric dentistry in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). All the final year dental students were required to complete a questionnaire that comprised of 3 sections: 1) Palmore’s Facts on Aging Quiz II, 2) Oral health and social concerns of patients, and 3) Perception towards the teaching of geriatric dentistry. A total of 83 students participated in the study. Twenty-four per cent (n=20) scored more than 70% to questions on knowledge about older people and 73% (n=61) scored between 50-70%. The students had ranked physical disability, transportation problems and complex and overlapping priorities as reasons for elderly not keeping to their appointments. Majority of the students reported that lack of educational resource materials and very minimum clinical sites experience were the main barriers faced during the course. In conclusion, majority of the students had moderate to good knowledge about older people and were able to recognize issues of social concerns that can influence their oral health. In general, there were not many changes in the perceived competencies of managing older patients following the geriatric module.