Dental trauma education among Canadian dental schools: A Nationwide survey of dental trauma educators.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The extent of education regarding dental trauma within dental schools around the world is believed to be very diverse, but also largely unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze and depict the current curriculum regarding dental trauma education among all Canadian dental schools, in an effort to refine and consolidate the education system. METHODS: A survey was conducted over a scheduled meeting with dental trauma Instructors from all 10 dental schools in Canada. Questions were categorized into three sections investigating the dental trauma curriculum, the examinations/assessments of students, and the clinical exposure provided to students during the course of their dental studies. Data were first analyzed individually, and then common findings were grouped together. RESULTS: A total of 17 instructors were interviewed. In 9 out of the 10 universities, dental trauma education remains fragmented with an overall mean of only 4 ± 5.2 h allocated to teaching dental trauma throughout the dental courses. Only one single university reported testing students following the completion of their dental trauma course, and only one university conducted a final examination dedicated separately to dental trauma only. All instructors reported a lack of ample exposure to trauma cases during clinical rotations. CONCLUSIONS: Many deficiencies exist in teaching dental trauma among Canadian universities. Due to low clinical exposure, students might be under-prepared to clinically manage trauma cases. Also, the lack of unification in the curriculum creates confusion among students. Additional clinical exposure along with unification within, and between, dental schools could result in a more coherent and a better presented dental trauma curriculum.