Enhancing Clinical Preparedness in Endodontics Through Hands-On Faculty Mentorship
Document Type
Poster
Abstract
This study objectively looks at whether clinical confidence and preparedness for endodontics in dental students may be optimized with hands-on mentorship and progressive training during the D3 year. Students face challenges with transitioning from simulation-based training to patient-centered clinical practice. Students’ self-assessed preparedness and confidence with performing endodontic procedures after participating in a novel, hands-on mentoring program was assessed using an original survey via Qualtrics. The program included guided D3 experiences conducting endodontic procedures on extracted teeth under faculty guided, personalized instruction. Among the key results were that 88% felt that they were better prepared for D4 rotations and 96% reported that they found the D3 mentorship process superior to simulation training. Student confidence was also significantly improved, with self-assessed preparedness increasing from 52% to 69% following the D3 experience. This study emphasizes the value of experiential learning in bridging theoretical knowledge and practice, responding to the diversity of human tooth anatomy, and preparing students for clinical practice. Instruments like 3-D printed models and extracted teeth enabled skill acquisition, and the faculty strengthened both critical decision-making and procedural precision. Future efforts include the incorporation of earlier live-patient training within the curriculum, the development of a formalized assessment process to monitor longitudinal outcomes, and an increased number of faculty available for mentorship. In this way, these strategies are aimed at refining endodontic education so that dental students become better prepared for clinical practice after graduation.
Publication Date
2-2025
Recommended Citation
Hammond, Yehudah; Leibow, William; and Spolarich, A. E., "Enhancing Clinical Preparedness in Endodontics Through Hands-On Faculty Mentorship" (2025). ASDOH Student Publications. 10.
https://scholarworks.atsu.edu/asdoh-student/10
Comments
Poster presented at ASDOH Research Week - March 2025.
This is a Cubify based presentation hosted at https://my.ltb.io/#/showcase/atsu-asdoh. It includes a video presentation, references, a PowerPoint presentation, and summary poster.