Comparison of the Management of Carious Primary Molars by a Sample of Undergraduate Students from Three European Countries
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: from one country to another, and even between universities.One major factor impacting the quality of teaching is the lack of funding for different programs.9 In dentistry, learning and acquiring relevant academic and clinical knowledge result from a variety of learning methods and styles.These methods need to be diverse to allow students to find what suits them best.10 Virtual reality is one such example.11 It is widely accepted that dental teaching programs should be evidence-based, clinically relevant, and promote social IntroductIonPrimary molars play a key role in maintaining space and guiding the eruption of permanent teeth.Premature loss of a primary molar can lead to decreased space available for the eruption of permanent teeth, unwanted tooth movement, and loss of arch space-all influencing occlusal development, 1 including crowding, impaction, or ectopic eruption, excessive eruption of unopposed teeth, and midline discrepancies. 2 The need for orthodontic treatment increases with premature loss of the primary molar.3 Primary molars are essential in the masticatory process; it has been shown that masticatory performance is impaired in children with carious lesions 4 and missing teeth, leading to poor oral quality of life.5 Clinicians are encouraged, when possible, to restore the primary molar until natural exfoliation.Dental practices are constantly evolving with research.In pediatric dentistry, two main international agencies regularly review and update current practices-the primary goal being to ensure that recommendations are up to date.These two agencies are the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) 6 and the European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (EAPD).7 To ensure good practice, these recommendations need to be respected and taught to students in faculties worldwide, thus providing evidence-based education.This is not as easy as it seems.Indeed, clinicians hired as faculty may tend to teach according to their own personal experience and may not always incorporate recent academic updates and educational culture.8 Teaching methods may vary
Authors: Camille Boeffard, Tiphaine Davit-Beal, Audrey Doublier, Chloé Regnard, Alexis Gaudin, Tony Prud'homme
Language: English
Subfield: Orthodontics
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4412957878