Undergraduate teaching in gerodontology in Leipzig and Zürich – a comparison of different approaches

Abstract

The lack of a dental service and Leipzig students' inability to offer treatment in the presence of disease was associated with frustrations. Practical training should go beyond dental examinations at a long-term care facility and include the opportunity for dental treatment. Personnel and equipment required for mobile treatment exceed resources available at most German dental schools.

Educating Health Professionals about Disability: A Review of Interventions

“…Markström et al (2009) found that five-week clinical placements for students in healthcare professions reduced stigma associated with mental illness. Swiss dental students who were able to treat older people reported feeling less pity and frustration than German students, who could observe problems but not help (Nitschke et al 2009 …”

An ageing population poses dental challenges

“…Dental professionals regard providing such a service as a minimal financial gain and this lack of competence, confidence and interest must be addressed by adequate training in the area of gerodontology so that the older population in need can be served [48]. Undergraduate education is the seedbed for conscientious professionals [49], and it is therefore important to place S i n g a p o r e D e n t a l J o u r n a l 3 5 ( 2 0 1 4 ) 3 -8 appropriate emphasis on oral health care for older patients in the undergraduate curriculum [50][51][52][53]. There is some evidence that undergraduate clinical exposure to gerodontology results in a higher likelihood of dentists subsequently providing comprehensive care in nursing homes, because they are exposed to a different group of older people during those crucial undergraduate years [54,55].…”

“…There is some evidence that undergraduate clinical exposure to gerodontology results in a higher likelihood of dentists subsequently providing comprehensive care in nursing homes, because they are exposed to a different group of older people during those crucial undergraduate years [54,55]. Similarly, extramural activities involving older people contribute to the formation of positive attitudes and a willingness to work with older patients upon qualification [49].…”

The value of education in special care dentistry as a means of reducing inequalities in oral health

“…In 2009, it was reported that Italian dental students spent about 4% of didactic and 5% of their clinical training in the dental care for patients with intellectually disability; however, most students (83%) rated this training as inadequate (110). Training in geriatric dentistry has also been reported as inadequate in Canada, India and Europe (111)(112)(113)(114). It is unknown whether formal undergraduate teaching in Special Care Dentistry exists in the countries not mentioned above, whether it is covered by other disciplines (notably paediatric dentistry) or whether there is simply a lack of available information.…”