Perceptions of Clinical Dental Students Toward Online Education During the COVID-19 Crisis: An Egyptian Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey

Objectives: To evaluate the perceptions of clinical dental students on the role of online education in providing dental education during the COVID-19 crisis.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was sent to four Egyptian dental schools from the 20th of January 2021 to the 3rd of February 2021. Survey questions included the demographics, uses, experiences, perceived benefits, and barriers of distance learning in dentistry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Responses were collected from the clinical dental school students. Categorical data were presented as frequencies (n) and percentages (%) and were analyzed using Fisher’s exact test.Results: Three hundred thirty-seven clinical dental students across four Egyptian dental schools responded. Most students used either Google Classroom or Microsoft Teams to access the online content. The data showed that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the academic performance of most participants (97.4%) with varying degrees. On average, students were neutral when asked to rate the online lectures, but did not find online practical education as effective (81.3%) as online theoretical teaching. The commonly described barriers to online teaching included loss of interaction with educators, inappropriateness in gaining clinical skills, and the instability of the internet connection.Conclusion: Despite the reported benefits, clinical dental students in Egypt preferred the hybrid approach in dental education as distance learning represented a prime challenge to gain adequate clinical dental skills.

General dental practitioners’ perceptions on Team-based learning pedagogy for continuing dental education

Introduction: Team-based learning (TBL) pedagogy is a structured, flipped classroom approach to promote active learning. In April 2019, we designed a TBL workshop to introduce the New Classification of Periodontal Diseases 2017 to a group of general dental practitioners (GDPs). We aimed to investigate GDPs feedback on learning this new classification using TBL pedagogy. Methods: Two articles related to the 2017 classification were sent to 22 GDPs 2 weeks prior to a 3-hour workshop. During the face-to-face session, they were randomly assigned to five groups. They participated in individual and group readiness assurance tests. Subsequently, the GDPs had inter- and intragroup facilitated discussions on three simulated clinical cases. They then provided feedback using a pen-to-paper survey. Based on a 5-point Likert scale (1-strongly disagree to 5-strongly agree), they indicated their level of agreement on items related to the workshop and their learning experience. Results: Majority (94.7%, 18 out of 19 GDPs) agreed the session improved their understanding of the new classification and they preferred this TBL pedagogy compared to a conventional lecture. All learners agreed they can apply the knowledge to their work and there was a high degree of participation and involvement during the session. They found the group discussion and the simulated clinical cases useful. Conclusion: A TBL workshop is suitable for clinical teaching of the New Classification of Periodontal Diseases 2017 for GDPs. Its structure promotes interaction among learners with the opportunity to provide feedback and reflection during the group discussions. This model might be a good pedagogy for continuing dental education.

Emerging Advancement for Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in Dentistry

The skill of visual reality has matured, and VR and AR are increasingly being used in educational and surgical settings. The development of virtual reality technologies allows users to mix medical knowledge, medical data, and graphical data. It can provide more precise information, allowing users to increase their safety and reduce their risk. Virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) simulators that provide direct feedback and objective evaluation could be a useful tool in dental education in the future. Not only has it been applied to education, but it has also been created in therapeutic therapy. The authors believe that in the future VR and AR training and teaching will be extended and used in every aspect of dentistry, enabling students to develop their abilities on their own. In comparison to augmented reality, virtual reality offers a far more immersive experience. It would establish a trusting relationship between patients and doctors based on the experience of the dentists and the use of different hardware and software.

The Association between Emotional Stress, Sleep, and Awake Bruxism among Dental Students: A Sex Comparison

Psychosocial factors may play an important role in the etiology of sleep and awake bruxism. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between emotional stress and bruxism in male and female dental students at various stages of their education. Dental education in Israel is based on a six-year curriculum, divided into three stages: pre-medical studies (yr. 1–2), manual skills (yr. 3–4), and clinical experience (yr. 5–6). Each stage requires different capabilities and skills. Questionnaires regarding psychological state (SCL-90) measuring depression, anxiety, and somatization as well as stress evaluation questioners (Perceived Stress Scale questionnaire 14) were completed by 387 dental students in the 1st to 6th years. Sleep and awake bruxism were evaluated based on the respondent’s awareness. During the manual stage of studies, a significant increase was identified, albeit with weak correlations, between stress scales, depression, anxiety, somatization, and the prevalence of awake bruxism, particularly among males. Only in females was sleep bruxism correlated with emotional parameters, whereas no significant difference in sleep bruxism was observed in males throughout the stages of the study. The manual years of dental education were found to be linked to higher levels of emotional distress and awake bruxism, particularly in men. Sleep bruxism, on the other hand, was not directly linked to emotional factors, implying a distinct etiology.

Quality, Effectiveness and Outcome of Blended Learning in Dental Education during the COVID Pandemic: Prospects of a Post-Pandemic Implementation

Blended learning is growing in popularity particularly following the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic. One of the fields that the pandemic has substantially affected is dental education. Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality and effectiveness of the online dental education. Students’ perceptions and experiences of blended learning were also investigated. Methods: A 28-question online survey was designed to gauge students’ perceptions of the effect of blended learning on their academic performance. Results: 314 participants in preclinical and clinical years completed the questionnaire (223 females and 91 males). The majority of students (89%) believed that clinical and practical courses cannot be given by the internet. In terms of students’ opinion in the assessment process, more females (65.8%) preferred traditional exams than males (50.5%) (p < 0.05). Most clinical students (83%) preferred a combination of online and traditional teaching compared to 72% of preclinical students (p < 0.05). Clinical year students were more willing to communicate electronically with their classmates and instructors. The majority of dental students (65%) reported that future dental courses should be blended. Conclusions: In the pandemic era, blended learning, should become the preferred method of education whereby theoretical knowledge is delivered through online tutorials and clinical training is resumed on-site, to ensure competency of dental graduates while maintaining safety of the dental team. Current facilities and course designs should be improved in order to improve students’ experiences with blended learning.