Oral histology and embryology: an integrated educational program.

Since 1976 dental students in The University of Western Australia have undertaken a revised course in oral histology and embryology taught within the framework of an oral biology program. The new course includes clinic sessions, which are presented prior to scheduled lecture and laboratory instruction on a particular tissue, and are intended to familiarize students with the clinical appearance of that tissue. Participating staff include members from the divisions of oral biology, oral pathology, periodontics, pedodontics, and preventive dentistry, Examination of histologic slides during laboratory sessions is supplemented by use of dental radiographs in order to achieve a close correlation between histologic structure and radiographic appearance. The use of the dental clinic environment to teach basic and applied microanatomy, and inclusion of clinical data such as radiographs, has strengthened the link between basic biological science and clinical dentistry.