Abstract
Purpose: Along with the reform of dental education for students, the program of pre-clinical practice in prosthetic treatment for edentulous patients was improved in 2006. The purpose of this study was to assess the educational effects of the new program of pre-clinical practice in comparison with the old program.
Materials and Methods: The subjects of the study were 4th-year students during the period of 2005 to 2007. After pre-clinical practice in complete denture treatment was completed, the questionnaire was carried out. The questions were as follows: 1) Do you think you will be able to carry out the treatment or operation for a patient in the clinical training? 2) Was the pre-clinical practice useful as a supplement to lectures? Although laboratory techniques were the main contents of pre-clinical practice in complete denture treatment in 2005, clinical skills took precedence in 2006. Moreover, both the clinical skill and the laboratory technique were programmed in 2007.
Results: In 6 items regarding clinical skills, the number of students who answered “I think I will be able to carry out the treatment or operation” or “pre-clinical practice was useful as a supplement to lectures” increased year by year. Moreover, in 23 items regarding pre-clinical practice, there were significant differences in researched two years.
Conclusion: It was suggested that the new program of pre-clinical practice in complete denture treatment was useful for acquirement of knowledge and technique.
