Comparison of two ways of clinical practice in pediatric dentistry

Abstract

Objective The efficacy of the pediatric clinical practice was compared between the reformed practice model and the traditional practice model.Methods Using 80,Eight-year program graduate dentists between 2003 and 2004 as the object of research,and the students of grade 2003 ( n =39) for control group and that of grade 2004( n=41 ) for experimental group.Clinical practice of control group was arranged in the traditional pediatric dental practice model.Clinical practice of experimental group was organized by shortening the practice time of treating child patients,admitting treatment of adolescent endodontic patients and adding problem-based learning( PBL) of dental trauma case to the teaching schedule.At the end of the clinical practice,the number of clinical operation record and the questionnaire survey about the practice models among the students were compared.Results The numbers of caries fillings,pulp therapies and dental-trauma cases of child patients in experimental group was not statistically decreased compared to control group (P＞0.05).But the number of pulp therapies and caries fillings in permanent teeth of all patients in experimental group overwhelmed the counterparts of only child patients in control group (P＜0.05).Questionnaire-survey revealed that dental students in experimental group appreciated the innovation very much,and dental students in control group expected more patient admission and practice opportunities.Conclusions Under the condition of limited out-patient numbers in pediatric dentistry,by applying the reformed practice model,the time is more reasonably distributed,practice opportunity is increased and the effect of practice is improved. Key words: Pediatric dentistry; Clinical practice; Caries fillings