In real life: evaluating primary care-based undergraduate dental education in Northwest England

Aim To explore how working at dental education centres (DECs), away from the university campus, has influenced the attitudes of dental students towards providing dental care in a primary setting, and whether students feel that this model of dental education meets their perceived training needs.Design Exploratory, qualitative interview study.Methods Semi-structured interviews with five fourth BDS students, analysed using thematic analysis.Results The main theme identified was 'real life dentistry', as students described how their clinical experiences and the teaching at DECs would prepare them for life as a general dental practitioner. Students felt they had a positive impact on their patients, and although some felt they could not comment on the impact to the community, others thought that this was likely to be positive.Conclusion Students believed they experienced 'real life dentistry' which would prepare them well for their foundation year and future practice. They also believed they had a positive impact on their patients.