Featuring the application of biochemistry in dental practice through a self-directed assignment: A descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry education for oral health professionals.
• Integration of foundational science into dental curricula.

Background:

• Cellular biochemistry knowledge is vital for modern oral health professionals.
• Dental students often struggle with foundational biochemistry, perceiving it as complex and irrelevant.
• A need exists to enhance student motivation and understanding of biochemistry's clinical applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a focused, self-directed assignment for first-year Dental Hygiene (DH) students.
• To improve DH students' understanding of protein structure and function.
• To underscore the relevance of biochemistry to dental practice.

Main Methods:

• A quiz-style, self-directed assignment was created using Google Forms.
• The assignment was integrated as a supplementary activity in a foundational biochemistry course.
• Student perceptions and performance were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Main Results:

• 86% of students completed the supplementary assignment, with an average score of 6.04/10.
• 60% of participants reported enhanced knowledge of protein structure-function relationships.
• 48% understood how protein sequence changes impact structure and function.

Conclusions:

• A well-designed, interactive assignment can stimulate student motivation in biochemistry.
• Highlighting biochemistry's application in dentistry enhances its perceived relevance.
• This approach shows potential for improving foundational science education in dental programs.