Can an interactive case-based activity help bridge the theory-practice gap in operative dentistry?

A theory-practice gap in pre-doctoral dental education is a common source of stress for dental students. An interactive, small-group, case-based activity was designed to bridge the gap between pre-clinical and clinical experiences. The aim of our study was to assess the effectiveness of the case-based activity by evaluating students' comfort level in operative procedures.

Over 5 years, a total of 172 second-year students from the classes of 2017 through 2021 participated in the case-based activity delivered after the completion of the core operative dentistry course. The exercise included a pre-activity online quiz, an in-class case-based session and a laboratory exercise. Students' self-reported comfort levels in performing operative procedures were collected by surveys at three different times. They included the post-course survey distributed after the completion of the core operative dentistry course, the post-activity survey distributed after the completion of the case-based activity, and the follow-up survey distributed after students completed their first operative procedures in clinic.

There was a 93% response rate. The average rating of all eight statements revealed statistically significant increase in students' comfort level after completing the case-based activity and after performing their first operative procedures in the teaching practice.

This observation suggests that the case-based activity was effective in raising students' comfort levels. The activity may serve as an important tool in bridging the theory-practice gap between pre-clinical and clinical operative experiences.