How US dental schools can better prepare their students to perform operative procedures

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to characterize the curricular and supplemental resources used by dental students during their operative dentistry course, survey students’ perception of each resource's “helpfulness,” and assess students’ perceptions of preparedness to perform operative dental procedures in clinical settings. Methods American Student Dental Association delegates at all accredited dental education programs in the United States were asked to forward an email to students enrolled at their respective institutions explaining the purpose of the study and asking them to fill out our survey. The response rate was calculated using the targeted enrollment data found in American Dental Education Association Official Guide to Dental Schools. Results A total of 715 qualified respondents completed our questionnaire for a response rate of 13.5%. 90% of students felt at least “moderately prepared” to perform operative procedures in the clinical environment. The 3 most common curricular resources provided to students were lecture slides (n = 707, 99%), live lectures (n = 664, 93%), and live faculty demonstrations (n = 547, 77%). YouTube was the most common supplemental resource utilized by students (n = 575, 80%). When asked to select which resources were the most helpful for their learning, 49% (270/547) selected live faculty demonstrations, 27% (153/575) selected YouTube videos, and 23% (155/664) selected lectures/lecture slides. Conclusion To best meet the expectations of the current generation of dental students and to prevent early‐stage dental learners from being influenced by clinical misinformation online, dental schools should consider adapting and producing more online, video‐based learning resources for their curricula.

Exploring predoctoral dental student use of YouTube as a learning tool for clinical endodontic procedures

“…This finding was corroborated by a national study published by He et al. in 2021, which found that YouTube was the most common supplemental resource utilized by dental students (80%) 3 . Further, in the He et al.…”

“…2 This finding was corroborated by a national study published by He et al in 2021, which found that YouTube was the most common supplemental resource utilized by dental students (80%). 3 Further, in the He et al study, YouTube was ranked as the second most helpful of all presented curricular and supplemental resources. 3 In the study by Burns et al, dental students were asked about which types of dental procedures they prepare for using YouTube: Endodontics was one of the most frequently selected disciplines across all of the dental schools surveyed.…”

“…3 Further, in the He et al study, YouTube was ranked as the second most helpful of all presented curricular and supplemental resources. 3 In the study by Burns et al, dental students were asked about which types of dental procedures they prepare for using YouTube: Endodontics was one of the most frequently selected disciplines across all of the dental schools surveyed. 2 Previous publications on predoctoral education in endodontics support this finding by suggesting that, globally, many dental students find endodontic procedures to be complex, stressful, and lack confidence in their abilities in this clinical area.…”

“…Recent publications characterizing dental students' use of digital resources have reported that dental students are using online video and content sharing platforms for learning, in addition to purposes of leisure. [1][2][3] This realization in dental education has been coupled with the finding that students preparing for careers in dentistry are utilizing online resources, such as YouTube, to supplement their formal dental education despite infrequent and largely unguided recommendations from dental school faculty. 2,4 In a multi-institutional study published by Burns et al in 2020, in which 479 third-and fourth-year dental students from five United States dental schools were surveyed, 95% of students considered YouTube videos on clinical dental procedures to be a helpful learning tool.…”

“…The modern dental student has been educated in an increasingly social media‐driven society. Recent publications characterizing dental students’ use of digital resources have reported that dental students are using online video and content sharing platforms for learning, in addition to purposes of leisure 1–3 . This realization in dental education has been coupled with the finding that students preparing for careers in dentistry are utilizing online resources, such as YouTube, to supplement their formal dental education despite infrequent and largely unguided recommendations from dental school faculty 2,4 …”