title: Adequacy of patient pools to support predoctoral students' achievement of competence in pediatric dentistry in U.S. dental schools.
abstract: The aim of this study was to characterize the current status of predoctoral pediatric dentistry patient pools in U.S. dental schools and compare their status to that in 2001. A 2014 survey of school clinic-based and community-based dental patient pools was developed, piloted, and sent to pediatric predoctoral program directors in 57 U.S. dental schools via SurveyMonkey. Two follow-up contacts were made to increase the response rate. A total of 49 surveys were returned for a response rate of 86%. The responding program directors reported that their programs' patient pools had declined in number and had changed in character with more diversity and fewer procedures. They attributed the changes to competition, cost, and location of the dental school. The respondents reported that community-based dental education clinical sites continued to provide additional service experiences for dental students, with contributions varying by the nature of the site. A large number of the respondents felt that their graduates lacked some basic pediatric dentistry clinical skills and were not ready for independent practice with children. The results of this study suggest that the predoctoral pediatric dentistry patient pool has changed and general dentists may be graduating with inadequate experiences to practice dentistry for children.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Casamassimo is Professor and Chair, Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University; Dr. Seale is Regents Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry. Casamassimo.1@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Casamassimo
authors.affiliation: Dr. Casamassimo is Professor and Chair, Division of Pediatric Dentistry and Community Oral Health, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University; Dr. Seale is Regents Professor, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry.
authors.forename: N Sue
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Seale
mesh_terms: D032763:Behavior Control; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003151:Community Health Centers; D019140:Dental Care for Children; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis; D003740:Dental Clinics; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D004497:Education, Dental; D005179:Faculty, Dental; D005792:General Practice, Dental / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D010361:Patients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry / Q000193:education*; D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011231:Preceptorship; D011861:Radiography, Dental; D012051:Reimbursement Mechanisms; D012575:Schools, Dental / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D010895:Pit and Fissure Sealants
keywords: clinical education; community-based dental education; competence; dental education; dental school clinics; pediatric dentistry