Background Traditional classroom lectures have been the backbone of the education system for a long time although this method is most effective but it may not always permit active engagement with the matter and learn it. In contrast, active teaching formats such as fishbowl and snowball techniques allow students to participate in the task of attaining knowledge by shifting the target from preceptor to student, thereby allowing a better understanding of the concepts.
Methodology A total of 80 final-year undergraduate dental students were included in this study. Each student was informed regarding study design and protocol. A lecture on the principles of Pediatric Endodontics was delivered to the students in small groups using the routine virtual method, following which a pre-test activity questionnaire and formal thinking questionnaire were given to the students for scoring. Following this, the class of 80 was divided into smaller groups of four each and the Fishbowl–snowball activity was performed. A post-test activity questionnaire and formal thinking questionnaire were given once again to the students for scoring. The mean pre and post-test scores were statistically analyzed using paired t-test by statistical software SPSS version 20. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant.
Results The overall mean difference between pre and post-test activity and formal thinking scores was seen to be statistically significant (p < 0.001).
Conclusion It was seen that a combination of fishbowl and snowball method of teaching led to more satisfactory results as compared with the routine classroom teaching method.
The use of medicinal herbs in dentistry continues to expand rapidly across the globe. Herbal dentistry presents an attractive alternative to conventional synthetic materials. With a shift towards evidence-based dental practice, there is a need for dental clinicians to be fully aware of the alternatives and options currently available to them. This review article provides insight into the various herbal products currently available in dentistry. It provides a better understanding of the mechanism of action of the herbal products used to treat various dental problems. This narrative review identifies and summarises the most common medicinal herbs in various preventive and therapeutic spheres of dentistry. High anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities along with wound healing ability and sedative-anxiolytic were identified to be the properties favouring use of these medicinal plants in dentistry. Although the natural alternatives discussed in the current narrative review have shown to be either superior or comparable to the synthetically available options, further long-term in-vivo clinical trials are required to substantiate this evidence and justify the replacement of later with herbal alternatives in dentistry.
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