2016 Volume 32 Issue 2 Pages 100-107
Abstract Dental science should focus on maintaining and improving overall mouth function to ensure and preserve an individual’s oral health and overall quality of life. To this end, we have developed new educational tools (scenario-based case studies) to help dental practitioners provide a more comprehensive oral treatment based on understanding the holistic health of their patients. These teaching materials comprise a medical interview scenario, intraoral and X-ray imaging, a periodontal inspection, and a dental study model. This training will help students understand the flow of dental practice based on prophylactic comprehensive medical care, involving the following progressive steps :
Step 1 : Understand “the illness of the patient” based on a medical interview and problem analysis following the intraoral inspection with reference to the dental study model ;
Step 2 : Using a problem ‘map’ constructed from Step 1 to plan individualized patient education to ensure treatment success and prevention of recurrence ;
Step 3 : Simulation of the treatment based on the treatment plan.
The first step of this practical training was introduced to third-year students of Showa University School of Dentistry, many of whom found it useful as preparation for their clinical training.
In conclusion, this single education resource could improve the general skills of dental practice, particularly with respect to treatment planning. In addition, this preliminary study suggested that such training could contribute to the overall patient care abilities of oral physicians.
