A retrospective study on the relevance of the dental curriculum in general practice

The undergraduate dental curriculum in Swedish dental schools has recently been changed. The aim of this study was to estimate the opinions of recently qualified dentists concerning their undergraduate education received according to the old curriculum. A questionnaire was mailed to all graduates who qualified from the dental school in Huddinge between 1981-1983. The response rate was 71%. The respondents indicated that their theoretical knowledge was in general better in subjects closely related to clinical dentistry compared with basic biological subjects or behavioural science subjects. In most subjects clinical competence was closely related to the level of theoretical knowledge. The results of this study suggest that the "old" dental curriculum was successful in imparting knowledge concerning traditional dental subjects and preventive dentistry, but less successful in imparting knowledge concerning basic and medical sciences, behavioural subjects and in relating theoretical and practical skills.