Resident evaluation of orthodontic programs in Canada

The purpose of this study was to investigate the satisfaction of Canadian orthodontic residents with their programs and determine the scope of their training. An anonymous online questionnaire was sent to all Canadian orthodontic residents in November 2006. Data were assembled and categorized by different variables, and chi-square comparative analyses were performed. Forty-four out of fifty-four residents responded, giving a participation rate of 81.48 percent. Overall, 86.36 percent of responding residents were satisfied with their program. Respondents said they felt they received the appropriate amount of formal didactic teaching sessions and dedicated and protected academic time. All residents indicated their programs offered training in numerous treatment philosophies: 93.18 percent said they have sufficient clinically based training, and 72.73 percent indicated that their research-based training was sufficient. All responding residents indicated they will complete more than thirty patients from start to finish, and 25 percent estimated completion of more than seventy patients by graduation. Residents said they will complete on average five orthognathic surgery, twenty-four extraction, thirty-one non-extraction, eight adult, and thirteen patients in the mixed dentition. Only 50 percent said their programs contained care for disabled or underserved patients. Most (86.36 percent) said they feel they will be adequately prepared to provide unsupervised orthodontic care after graduation. These orthodontic residents indicated they collaborate most with the disciplines of oral surgery, periodontics, and prosthodontics. However, only 52.27 percent indicated they have a formal interdisciplinary program for treating patients. We conclude from the study that Canadian orthodontic residents are satisfied with the didactic, clinical, and research aspects of their programs. They receive comprehensive instruction with the opportunity to complete a significant number of patients, employing a variety of treatment approaches.