Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial Education
<b>Background/Objectives:</b> It is essential that dental school graduates are adequately prepared to provide care to patients with craniofacial differences (PCD). This study aimed to identify potential educational deficiencies in predoctoral dental school curricula regarding the managem...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Dentistry Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/6/266 |
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| author | Catherine Bingham Linda Sangalli Kathryn Preston Poojan Shrestha Caroline M. Sawicki |
| author_facet | Catherine Bingham Linda Sangalli Kathryn Preston Poojan Shrestha Caroline M. Sawicki |
| author_sort | Catherine Bingham |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background/Objectives:</b> It is essential that dental school graduates are adequately prepared to provide care to patients with craniofacial differences (PCD). This study aimed to identify potential educational deficiencies in predoctoral dental school curricula regarding the management of PCD. <b>Methods:</b> An electronic survey was distributed to predoctoral dental students across the United States. The 20-item questionnaire assessed students’ educational experiences, clinical encounters, and perceived knowledge and confidence in managing PCD. <b>Results:</b> The most taught didactic topic was diagnostic characteristics of craniofacial differences (77.1%), followed by psychosocial challenges (43.0%) and treatment/referral (36.3%). Respondents reported low levels of understanding and confidence in managing craniofacial conditions, with the lowest confidence in providing surgical treatment (30.1 ± 27.9) and the highest in referrals and communication (41.7 ± 30.1, on a 0–100 scale). Logistic regression showed that overall understanding was a significant predictor of confidence, increasing odds by 8% (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.05, 1.12). Participants noted that hands-on clinical experience would most improve their confidence in managing PCD. <b>Conclusions:</b> Predoctoral dental students exhibit low confidence and understanding in managing PCD. Incorporating more targeted craniofacial education, particularly hands-on clinical experience, into the curriculum is essential to better prepare dental graduates for craniofacial care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9a2c3fed077a4398b176538fad35eee2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2304-6767 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dentistry Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-9a2c3fed077a4398b176538fad35eee22025-08-20T03:24:39ZengMDPI AGDentistry Journal2304-67672025-06-0113626610.3390/dj13060266Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial EducationCatherine Bingham0Linda Sangalli1Kathryn Preston2Poojan Shrestha3Caroline M. Sawicki4Adams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USACollege of Dental Medicine–Illinois, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USASolo Practice, Phoenix, AZ 85034, USAAdams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USAAdams School of Dentistry, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA<b>Background/Objectives:</b> It is essential that dental school graduates are adequately prepared to provide care to patients with craniofacial differences (PCD). This study aimed to identify potential educational deficiencies in predoctoral dental school curricula regarding the management of PCD. <b>Methods:</b> An electronic survey was distributed to predoctoral dental students across the United States. The 20-item questionnaire assessed students’ educational experiences, clinical encounters, and perceived knowledge and confidence in managing PCD. <b>Results:</b> The most taught didactic topic was diagnostic characteristics of craniofacial differences (77.1%), followed by psychosocial challenges (43.0%) and treatment/referral (36.3%). Respondents reported low levels of understanding and confidence in managing craniofacial conditions, with the lowest confidence in providing surgical treatment (30.1 ± 27.9) and the highest in referrals and communication (41.7 ± 30.1, on a 0–100 scale). Logistic regression showed that overall understanding was a significant predictor of confidence, increasing odds by 8% (OR = 1.08, 95% CI 1.05, 1.12). Participants noted that hands-on clinical experience would most improve their confidence in managing PCD. <b>Conclusions:</b> Predoctoral dental students exhibit low confidence and understanding in managing PCD. Incorporating more targeted craniofacial education, particularly hands-on clinical experience, into the curriculum is essential to better prepare dental graduates for craniofacial care.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/6/266predoctoral educationcraniofacial abnormalitiesdental education |
| spellingShingle | Catherine Bingham Linda Sangalli Kathryn Preston Poojan Shrestha Caroline M. Sawicki Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial Education Dentistry Journal predoctoral education craniofacial abnormalities dental education |
| title | Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial Education |
| title_full | Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial Education |
| title_fullStr | Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial Education |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial Education |
| title_short | Identifying Gaps in Predoctoral Craniofacial Education |
| title_sort | identifying gaps in predoctoral craniofacial education |
| topic | predoctoral education craniofacial abnormalities dental education |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/6/266 |
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