Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions of Participants and Instructors Taking Part in a Dental School Simulation Course for Potential Dental Students

Abstract

Four two-day dental school simulation courses were conducted over a two-year period for the purpose of allowing prospective dental students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a dental simulation lab. A total of 292 subjects from thirty-four colleges and universities participated in the courses. The courses were planned and taught by dental students attending the host school, with oversight by faculty members. Participants took pre-and posttests assessing their knowledge of dental practices and completed surveys before and after the course to assess their attitudes toward the dental profession. Student instructors completed a post-course survey of the experience. The simulation course was effective in increasing participants' desire (8 percent increase) to attend the host school. Dental knowledge improved 34 percent following the course. Thirty-four percent of student instructors indicated they were more likely to pursue a career in academics following this experience. Results suggest that a dental school simulation course can be a positive experience for both participants and student instructors.Mr. Hawley is a third-year dental student; Mr.

The Effectiveness of Students’ Performance in Preclinical Fixed Prosthodontics Course in Predicting Subsequent Clinical Performance

“…This is one of the main reasons dental schools always aim to assess their students’ clinical abilities. Concerns for patient safety have led many institutions to explore alternatives that can effectively be used in teaching and assessing clinical skills, such as using advanced technology 2–4 . Patient simulators are used in dental schools’ educational programs worldwide, and they are considered an integral tool in the delivery of their training curricula 5 .…”