Pileggi Roberta, Glickman Gerald N
Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, Dental Branch, University of Texas at Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Eur J Dent Educ. 2004 Feb;8(1):12-7.
A challenge in contemporary dental education is to achieve a smooth transition from preclinical teaching environments to patient-care clinics in a cost-effective manner. The preclinical endodontic courses at The University of Texas, Dental Branch at Houston provide a unique learning environment that enables the student to perform endodontic treatment on extracted teeth in a typodont, and be involved in diagnosis and treatment-planning discussions. The specially designed stone typodont used has built-in radiographic capability, and is mounted at each chair in the clinic. During each preclinical session, students are assigned clinical cubicles and proper aseptic protocol is followed. Students are required to wear gloves, masks and eyewear, and place a rubber dam during treatment. Written self-assessment evaluations based upon prescribed criteria are utilised; feedback is given by faculty composed of both full-time endodontists and graduate students who periodically rotate and are calibrated on a regular basis. In the lecture phase, clinical case scenarios are presented to reinforce concepts of diagnosis and emergency care and to help integrate endodontics with other disciplines; a Socratic-like teaching style is established by the faculty facilitator to create an environment for developing critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. The overall feedback from graduating students has been very positive. Advantages of this format are an easier transition to patient management, a more keen interest in specialsation and a perceived increase in levels of confidence.
当代牙科教育面临的一项挑战是以具有成本效益的方式实现从临床前教学环境到患者护理诊所的平稳过渡。德克萨斯大学休斯顿分校牙科学院的临床前牙髓病课程提供了独特的学习环境，使学生能够在仿头模上对拔除的牙齿进行牙髓治疗，并参与诊断和治疗计划的讨论。所使用的专门设计的石膏仿头模具有内置的放射成像功能，并安装在诊所的每个治疗椅上。在每次临床前课程中，学生会被分配到临床隔间，并遵循适当的无菌操作规范。学生在治疗期间必须戴手套、口罩和护目镜，并放置橡皮障。利用基于规定标准的书面自我评估评价；反馈由全职牙髓病医生和研究生组成的教师提供，他们定期轮换并定期进行校准。在讲座阶段，会展示临床病例场景，以强化诊断和急救概念，并帮助将牙髓病学与其他学科相结合；教师引导者采用类似苏格拉底式的教学风格，营造一个培养批判性思维和解决问题能力的环境。应届毕业生的总体反馈非常积极。这种教学形式的优点是向患者管理的过渡更容易、对专业化的兴趣更浓厚以及自信心明显增强。
