Current Status of Clinical Practice of Periodontal Therapy by Predoctoral Dental Students at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU)

Abstract

During the fifth and sixth year of Dental School at Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), predoctoral dental students participate in comprehensive clinical practice at the Dental Hospital. The student clinical practice experience is organized into three phases. Phase I consists of clinical simulation practice at each of the Dental Hospital's clinics from September to October of year 5 (6 weeks). This occurs just prior to the start of actual clinical practice. Phase II consists of comprehensive clinical practice at the Student Clinic from November of year 5 to October of year 6 (47 weeks). Phase III involves advanced clinical simulation practice or lectures, where students gain advanced exposure to an area of their interest (5 weeks). This starts after the National Exams held in February of year 6.

Regarding the clinical practice of periodontal therapy, every student practices periodontal examination, oral hygiene instruction, initial treatment, and assists with surgical treatment. During Phase II, the clinical practice is supervised by Dental Faculty members. A credit system is employed for the evaluation with points awarded for successful completion of training in each clinical procedure.

The graduating class of 2018 (51 students) had periodontal therapy experiences totaling 51 examination cases (one case/student), 129 general cases (on average 2.5±1.9 cases/student), and 615 supportive periodontal therapy (SPT) /maintenance cases (on average 12.1±4.0 cases/student). All the students passed the oral examinations based on one examination case ("Main Case"), achieved the essential requirements for administering periodontal therapy, and completed the requirements for clinical practice.

The system of student clinical practice is also evaluated by the students using a Course Evaluation. Findings from the students' Course Evaluations are used when considering modifications to the system of predoctoral dental clinical practice at TMDU. In this article, the present status of clinical practice of periodontal therapy by predoctoral dental students at TMDU is reported based on the schedule and performance of students of the graduating class of 2018.