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Early Clinical Experience for First‐Year Dental Students
Author(s) -
Lalumandier James A.,
Victoroff Kristin Zakariasen,
Thuernagle Oliver
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of dental education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.53
H-Index - 68
eISSN - 1930-7837
pISSN - 0022-0337
DOI - 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2004.68.10.tb03854.x
Subject(s) - medical education , medicine , dental care , psychology , oral health , oral health care , family medicine
Over the past three years we have exposed our first‐year dental students at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine to an early clinical experience. Following a seventy‐two‐hour didactic and laboratory course, first‐year students spend over 100 hours treating school children in twenty‐eight elementary and middle schools in the Cleveland Municipal School District. Not only do dental students learn a clinical procedure, but more importantly they experience the need for health care, in particular, dental care among those less fortunate than themselves. The experience strengthens their desire to help the under‐served, their understanding of the problems many face in obtaining oral health care, and their commitment to addressing these issues. Themes from student reflection papers are summarized.