Bridging the Gap: Student Perspectives on Improving Undergraduate Implant Dentistry Education in Australia

The proposed guidelines for implant dentistry education in Australian undergraduate dental programs from the 2010 Australian Consensus Workshop (ACW) have presented notable difficulties in their implementation. This study aims to explore the views of dental students regarding implant dentistry education and recommend improvements.

A survey was distributed to final year dental students (n = 73) in one of the Australian dental schools. The 18-question survey was structured into four sections, covering participants experience in implant dentistry, their confidence in applying knowledge acquired from the implant curricula, satisfaction with the implant curricula in terms of quality, quantity, and timing of delivery, and considerations for possible improvements. Multilinear regression analysis was exclusively conducted for Satisfaction Likert data sets.

The response rate was 71.2% (n = 52). Most students reported low confidence in applying implant knowledge clinically (65.4%-80.7%), with a notable increase in confident responses in understanding theory following a practical workshop (from 7.7%-32.6%). Students unanimously agreed on the need for improvements, particularly emphasizing a greater focus on clinical observations (78.8%) and preclinical training (76.9%). The regression model was statistically significant for theory amount (F (1,45) = 4.2, p < 0.05) and Sim-Lab quality (F (1,45) = 5.7, p < 0.02).

Students expressed a lack of confidence in selecting and treating patients requiring implant dentistry. The quantity of theoretical content and the quality of Sim-Lab experiences were the factors that notably enhanced the satisfaction of students. Some of the obstacles identified by ACW 14 years ago persist in undergraduate dental education.