Current challenges in dental education- a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Higher Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Dental education grapples with multifaceted challenges spanning institutional, student, and faculty domains.
• Key issues include outdated infrastructure, faculty recruitment, and administrative policies.
• Effective teaching strategies are needed to equip students with evidence-based treatment skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of current challenges in dental education.
• To identify and synthesize key issues impacting dental training and curriculum.
• To highlight areas requiring reform for improved dental education outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology adhering to PRISMA-ScR guidelines was employed.
• Searches were conducted across Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase from 2019 to 2024.
• Twelve English-language articles detailing challenges in dental education were selected for analysis.

Main Results:

• A significant disconnect exists between basic science and clinical phases of the curriculum.
• Students often lack adequate patient care experience, particularly with geriatric, pediatric, and medically compromised populations.
• Challenges include integrating new dental technologies, faculty recruitment/retention, and graduate employment difficulties.

Conclusions:

• Persistent challenges in dental education necessitate urgent curricular and infrastructure reform.
• Enhancing dental education is crucial for preparing students for 21st-century practice.
• Creating an attractive academic environment is vital for retaining dental educators.