Exploring the consistency, transparency and portability of dental technology education: benchmarking across Norway, Ireland and Australia

Perceptions of a Digital Dental Technology Curriculum: A Qualitative Study of Dental Technology Students

INTRODUCTION

Integrating digital dental technology into undergraduate curricula can better prepare dental technology students for a digitally driven workplace. However, students' perspectives on this education are sparse in the literature. This qualitative study explored dental technology students' perceptions of a digital dental technology curriculum.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An online questionnaire was administered to third-year and fourth-year students, as well as recent graduates from the West China School of Stomatology. It comprised three sections: (1) demographic data, (2) perceptions of learning effectiveness and its impact, and (3) suggestions for curriculum improvements. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and a chi-squared test.

RESULTS

Sixty-nine valid responses were collected, yielding an effective response rate of 90.79%. Over 80% of respondents thought the courses beneficial for professional learning, career selection and practical work. However, 35% of third-year students reported being unable to complete digital design independently upon finishing the courses, and 62.50% of fourth-year students also lacked confidence in this area. While 95% of third-year students and 87.5% of fourth-year students intended to pursue digital-related positions, only 33.33% of employed graduates were engaged in relevant professions, indicating that the demands for digital competence in the workplace significantly exceeded the curriculum content.

CONCLUSION

This study found that most students had a positive perception of the digital dental technology curriculum. However, a gap remains between curriculum content and professional practice demands. Further research and curriculum shifts driven by skill application and work scenarios are required to support the digital transformation of dental technology education and dentistry.

A Survey of tooth morphology teaching methods employed in the United Kingdom and Ireland

BACKGROUND

Tooth morphology is a central component of the dental curriculum and is applicable to all dental specialities. Traditional teaching methods are being supplemented with innovative strategies to tailor teaching and accommodate the learning styles of the recent generation of students.

METHODS

An online survey was compiled and distributed to the staff involved in teaching tooth morphology in the United Kingdom and Ireland to assess the importance of tooth morphology in the dentistry curriculum and the methodologies employed in teaching.

RESULTS

The results of the survey show that tooth morphology constitutes a small module in the dental curriculum. It is taught in the first 2 years of the dental curriculum but is applicable in the clinical years and throughout the dental career. Traditional teaching methods, lecture and practical, are being augmented with innovative teaching including e-learning via virtual learning environment, tooth atlas and e-books leading to blended learning. The majority of the schools teach both normal dental anatomy and morphologic variations of dental anatomy and utilise plastic teeth for practical and examination purposes. Learning the 3D aspects of tooth morphology was deemed important by most of the respondents who also agreed that tooth morphology is a difficult topic for the students.

CONCLUSION

Despite being core to the dental curriculum, overall minimal time is dedicated to the delivery of tooth morphology, creating a reliance on the student to learn the material. New forms of delivery including computer-assisted learning tools should help sustain learning and previously acquired knowledge.