Clinical Competency in Oral Surgery: History, Challenges and Solutions

This multifaceted study documents validates, and verifies the changes in oral surgery teaching in Dundee University Dental School, which have changed with time to accommodate the demands of an ever increasingly complex discipline.<br/>Availability of instructive teaching material in hard copy and as video and text on the internet combined with close clinical supervision and detailed assessment with feedback allows students to attain competency in exodontia with falling patient numbers.<br/>It has been demonstrated that the undergraduate training in the oral surgery clinics still attains competency or BDS standard of ‘safe beginner’ for simple extractions and minor oral surgery, despite fewer procedures being carried out. <br/>The criteria used for undergraduate assessment and marking of exodontia have been validated in house and nationally. These are appropriate, objective and reliable.<br/>Using Thiel cadavers is a valid and reliable method of teaching undergraduate students the technique of extraction with forceps prior to their clinical exposure. Further employment of the cadavers for continuing practice and the introduction of new skills has been mooted. <br/>The use of the ‘Blackboard’ was investigated and found not to be well used; the effort to produce the work was not well directed since it was not taken advantage of by the whole year nor very frequently by those who do use it. Alternative methods of engaging the student to investigate and research the discipline have been suggested.<br/>Encouragement of the students to interact more when the exodontia clinic time is available for this opportunity has been introduced and suggestions to increase this activity to enhance the teaching of core topics have been made.<br/>From apprehension to enjoyment our student assure us that they find this discipline <br/><br/>worthwhile whilst acknowledging that it will not be a practice builder and that they <br/><br/>are equipped to deal with simple oral surgery procedures.<br/>

Name dc:type.qualificationname

Doctor of Philosophy

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

Doctoral Thesis

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Dundee

Year dc:date.issued

2015

Author dc:creator

• Hanson, Christine Joan

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Macluskey, Michaelina
• Mossey, Peter

• Dento-alveolar surgery assessment
• Exodontia
• Adjuncts
• Competency
• Thiel
• Standardisation
• OSCE

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

oai:discovery.dundee.ac.uk:studenttheses/71eba1df-fc6e-4418-ba06-3c3d829d1448

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:discovery.dundee.ac.uk:studenttheses/71eba1df-fc6e-4418-ba06-3c3d829d1448