Preclinical laboratory course in dental behavioral science: changing human behavior

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science in Dentistry
• Dental Education
• Health Psychology

Background:

• Dental professionals face challenges in patient adherence to preventive and therapeutic regimens.
• Effective patient communication and behavior modification are crucial for successful dental outcomes.
• Integrating behavioral science into dental curricula can enhance clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an educational approach for teaching behavioral science to dental students.
• To equip dental students with practical behavior change techniques for dental problems.
• To improve the application of behavioral science in dental patient management.

Main Methods:

• A two-credit course in behavioral science was implemented for 99 second-year dental students.
• Instruction was delivered in six small groups, co-led by clinician-behavioral scientist teams.
• Students utilized slide-tape programs and engaged in a hands-on behavior change project.

Main Results:

• Students identified a dental problem, designed interventions, and applied behavioral techniques.
• The course facilitated practical application of behavioral science principles in a dental context.
• The clinician-behavioral scientist team approach provided integrated learning.

Conclusions:

• Teaching behavioral science equips dental students with essential skills for patient management.
• The described educational model effectively integrates behavioral science into dental training.
• This approach can enhance dental professionals' ability to address patient adherence issues.