Do dental students need sonography training? A prospective observational study.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Medical Education
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Sonography is a crucial diagnostic tool in oral and maxillofacial surgery, complementing CT and X-rays.
• Unlike X-ray courses, ultrasound diagnostics are not yet integrated into dental education.
• This study assesses the demand for undergraduate sonography training among dental students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the demand for integrating ultrasound diagnostics training into undergraduate dental curricula.
• To identify specific anatomical areas and preferred teaching methods for sonography education.

Main Methods:

• An online questionnaire, designed using the CHERRIES checklist, was administered to dental students.
• The survey covered demographics, prior experience, demand for training, desired topics, and teaching methods.
• Questionnaire validity and reliability were confirmed through factor analysis and Cronbach's Alpha.

Main Results:

• 129 dental students participated, with 75% reporting no prior ultrasound experience.
• A high demand for ultrasound training was reported (5.8/7), especially for the mandibular joint and salivary glands.
• Preferred teaching methods include practical training, scripts, video instructions, and digital pathology resources.

Conclusions:

• A significant demand for undergraduate ultrasound training in dentistry exists.
• Developing and implementing practice-oriented, digitally supported ultrasound training is recommended.