Spanish Curriculum in Cariology for undergraduate dental students: Proceedings and consensus

Knowledge and perception regarding molar incisor hypomineralisation among dental students and dental hygienist students in Spain: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Molar incisor hypomineralisation (MIH) has a high prevalence in the Spanish pediatric population and is a precursor of carious lesions in teeth in which it is present. Although this pathology is included in the curricula of the Degree in Dentistry and the Training Cycle in Oral Hygiene in our country, the contents currently taught seem to be insufficient in relation to the level of knowledge that we have today about this condition.

METHODS

A digital questionnaire of 18 questions was sent to a sample of 448 students attending the 4th and 5th year of the Degree in Dentistry and 2nd year of the Training Cycle in Oral Hygiene from different universities and vocational training centers in the Valencian Community. Descriptive and multivariate statistical analysis of the data was subsequently performed.

RESULTS

Of the 290 questionnaires that were obtained, 53.8% were from students attending the 2nd year of a training course in oral hygiene and 46.2% were from students pursuing a degree in dentistry. Most of the respondents had heard about MIH (75.2%), mainly through master classes. However, most students had difficulties distinguishing MIH lesions from other lesions (58.3%). The degree of knowledge about MIH was greater among dental students in all the aspects evaluated: prevalence, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. Of all the students, 83.8% were interested in increasing their training on MIH, especially in the areas of diagnosis and treatment.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study justify the need to expand the content on MIH, both theoretical and practical, in the educational curricula of the Degree in Dentistry and Integrated Vocational Training Centers in Spain.

Core Cariology Curriculum Framework in Spanish for Latin American dental schools: development and consensus

The aim of this study was to develop and achieve consensus on a cariology teaching framework for dental schools in Latin American Spanish-speaking countries. The Delphi process, with a ≥8 0% pre-defined participants' agreement, included three phases and a Coordinating Group. During the Preparation phase three panels of experts were selected and invited to participate: a) Regional academic/professional Dental Associations (Associations-Panel): n = 12; b) Regional Dental Schools (Dental-Schools-Panel): existing dental schools (n = 263) from the 19 Spanish-speaking regional countries; c) International academic/professional associations Peer Experts (Peer-Panel): n = 4. Based on consensus documents from Europe, Colombia, the Caribbean, USA, Chile and Spain, and updated scientific evidence, the Coordinating Group developed a baseline framework proposal of domains, main competencies (MC) and specific competencies (SC). The Consultation-Agreement and Consensus phases included three rounds of questionnaires with a step-wise sharing of the MC updated version of the consensus framework with the Dental-Schools-Panel and including SC with the Associations-Panel. Diverse communication strategies were used ( e.g ., independent google-form questionnaires and workshops). Consensus was reached after an on-site Associations-Panel workshop and secret voting, followed by an online meeting with the Peers-Panel. A total of 127 academic/professional institutions participated (Associations-Panel: 11, 91.6%; Dental-Schools-Panel: 112, 42.6%, all countries; Peers-Panel: 4, 100%). The baseline Cariology teaching framework of 5 domains, 10 MC and 92 SC underwent modifications after agreements for a final consensus framework consisting of 5 domains, 10 MC and 85 SC. A Core Cariology curriculum framework in Spanish for Latin American Dental Schools was successfully developed and agreed upon with regional dental academic and professional institutions.