University of Alberta dental students' outreach clinical experience: an evaluation of the program

In a 25-year-old satellite dental program, advanced dentistry and dental hygiene students provide highly supervised dental treatment for patients in government-funded clinics in 3 under-serviced communities in northern Alberta. Analysis of the performance data of the 2003 University of Alberta dentistry students in their fourth and final year was used to evaluate this program. The data showed that the undergraduate students did numerous diverse general dental procedures during the 2-week rotation, most of which were basic treatments. Students could participate in the program up to 3 times. In subsequent rotations, students tended to do fewer preventive measures, and more restorative treatment and dental extractions. Available grading data for all students indicated that treatment objectives were fulfilled in the vast majority of cases. Such community-based field experience may significantly add to the competence of students entering private practice.