Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate the perceived satisfaction of optional pairing in undergraduate clinical dental training of fourth‐ and fifth‐year dental students and newly graduated intern dentists in the subject of conservative dentistry and endodontics. Methods Data were collected through a paper‐based 2‐part questionnaire. The first part was made of 3 questions; gender, undergraduate dental year, and grade point average (GPA). The second part involved 9 questions about assistant student‐year level preference, satisfaction of optional pairing and main advantages and disadvantages of pairing. Statistical analysis was performed using descriptive statistics and Chi‐square test to investigate any statistically significant differences. Results A total of 92.4% were satisfied with optional clinical pairing. Satisfied respondents reported most prevalent advantages were speeding things up (88.5%) and helping in transferring instruments and materials (85.6%). Unsatisfied respondents reported the most prevalent disadvantages were like to work independently (56.8%) and the assistant was not always cooperative (32.4%). Students with low grade point averages (GPAs) felt incompetent to work in pairs compared with high GPA students (P = 0.001). Only 32.4% of participants thought that the assistant student should be given an evaluation mark. About 75% of respondents reported that clinical pairing improved their diagnostic skills and treatment planning. Conclusions Optional pairing in clinical dental training had a high satisfaction percentage. Allowing students to choose their own assistants may reduce pairing disadvantages and enhance its advantages. Students may gain a mentoring benefit from being encouraged to optionally pair with similar or higher study‐year students
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