Rethinking the role of community-based clinical education in pediatric dentistry

The early childhood caries epidemic has prompted a look at predoctoral clinical dental education in pediatric dentistry. The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution of community-based clinical education (CBE) to procedural and patient diversity in predoctoral pediatric dental education. Using procedural and demographic data from pediatric clinical experiences of the dental class of 2007 at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, profiles of patient diversity, clinical pediatric dental procedures, and student efficiency were developed for both CBE sites and the campus-based clinic. Ninety-two students performed 16,523 procedures on children in the fourth year in CBE sites in the community compared to 4,268 on campus in their third year. Pediatric-dedicated CBE sites accounted for almost 12,000 pediatric dental procedures. Approximately 56 percent of children treated at CBE sites were minorities. CBE sites accounted for most of the dental student restorative experience for pediatric patients for the Class of 2007, giving each student on average multiple restorative procedures. The campus-based clinic provided largely diagnostic and preventive procedures but few restorative opportunities. We conclude that community-based dental clinical education presents an opportunity to enhance pediatric predoctoral student clinical experiences in both quantity and diversity.