The Basic Science Survey Series for Dentistry – Trends in gross anatomy within the North American dental schools

Abstract

The Basic Science Survey Series for Dentistry was initiated to assess how undergraduate dental students are taught the basic sciences via nine Web‐based surveys completed by course directors. The purpose of this educational project was to help dental faculties in their curricular planning efforts by establishing what topics are taught, faculty involvement, and pedagogy in the dental basic sciences. The response to the dental gross anatomy survey was impressive with 71 respondents reporting data representing all of the 67 US and Canadian dental schools (or a 100% response rate). The results of the surveys indicate, amongst other things, that: 1) reliance upon medical school faculty and facilities is high; 2) emphasis on clinical topics has increased; 3) a general trend for a decrease in student contact hours is ongoing; 4) the use of computer‐assisted instruction tools has increased; 5) a pattern of increased use of integrated dental curricula has emerged; and 6) the experience levels of faculty indicate a future need for young faculty competent at teaching in the anatomical sciences. These results are impacting the construction of a Biomedical Sciences Foundations document within dental education.