Cariology Curriculum in Chilean Universities

Abstract

aim: To describe the current state of undergraduate Cariology teaching in Chilean universities. Material and Methods: A previously content-validated questionnaire was used to conduct a cross-sectional study including all private/public universities. Statistical analysis was performed determining frecuency distributions of categorical variables with the Stata Data Analysis and Statistical Software 13.1®. results: Cariology is a key issue in undergraduate education, and in most universities, is taught as key axis of courses, in various departments, for more than one year. Consistency was found in Cariology topics taught. The clinical threshold for surgical treatment is roughly divided into thirds (33.3% enamel microcavitation, 38.9% underlying shadow and 27.8% dentin cavity), no university indicated operative treatment for non cavitated lesions. Radiographic threshold for surgical treatment is the external dentinal third (66.7%). conclusions: Answers revealed a mix of traditional and modern Cariology concepts. Depite some encouraging results, half of Chilean universities considered that Cariology is not appropriately implemented and no standardization exists between theoretical teaching and clinical management, nonoperative management is not properly clinically implemented, students are evaluated for tissue damage restoration and resistance to non-invasive philosophy adoption remains.

Risk factors for dental caries in Latin American and Caribbean countries

“…169 In Brazil, information about caries risk is disseminated via Public health and Integrated seminars, risk factors, and determinants 170 and taught in a theoretical manner in most dental schools (94%). 171 In Chile, all universities teach CRA theoretically, 172 with clinical application being taught at only 40% of all dental schools. 173 Other data show that students exhibit relatively lower response to the usefulness of a CRA tool, such as Cariogram in the planning of treatments linked to the relatively low knowledge of part-time faculty in using this tool.…”

Contenidos Mínimos de Cariología e indicadores de aplicación clínica en el Currículo de Pregrado para las Escuelas Dentales Chilenas.

“…En el caso de Chile, se han efectuado tres estudios que establecen la situación de la educación de la cariología. El primero define el estado actual de la enseñanza de la cariología (11) , el segundo determina sus contenidos, metodología educativa y nivel de aplicación clínica actual (12) y el tercero presenta un currículo por competencias construido con el consenso de la mayoría de las escuelas de odontología del país (13) .…”