Kristopher Bennion , DMD 1 , Andres Pinto , DMD , MPH 2 , Jena Roath 3 , and Rochelle G . Lindemeyer , DMD 4
Private Practice New Braunfels , Texas 1 , University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine , Department of Oral Medicine 2 , Dental Student , University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine 3 , and University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine , Division of Pediatric Dentistry 4
* Corresponding author : Rochelle G . Lindemeyer , D . M . D Department of Pediatric Dentistry University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine 240 S . 40 th Street Philadelphia , PA 19104 lindemey @ dental . upenn . edu Telephone : 215-776-6671 FAX 215-590-5990
A Survey of Senior Dental Students ’ Experiences with Young Dental Patients in Pennsylvania
ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine graduating dental students ’ perceptions about their training and experience in examination and treatment of infants and their plans to examine infants upon graduation . A survey was distributed to dental students graduating from Pennsylvania dental schools in 2007 and 2008 . Of the returned surveys , 47.9 percent correctly identified 12 months as the recommended age for the first dental exam . Sixty-five percent of responders felt they would be comfortable performing exams on young children . This study ’ s primary objective was to test the association between performance of a clinical exam in a young child , enjoyment of clinical and didactic pediatric dental experience , plans for additional training in pediatric dentistry and willingness to see children younger than two years old in practice . Performing a clinical exam on a young child was associated to willingness to see children younger than two years of age in practice . Early exposure ( lecture or clinical ) to young pediatric patients while in dental school was significantly associated to perceived comfort with oral exam of young patients but not to reported willingness to see them in practice . Key words : pediatric dentistry , dental education , infant dental care
26 September / October 2010 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal