Productivity of Dental Students With and Without Early Clinic Courses

This abstract will compare differences in initial clinic productivity between junior dental students who have received early clinic courses prior to their third year of dental school and those who have not. It is anticipated that students who receive this type of training will be more comfortable, familiar and confident with clinic procedures and protocol, thus completing more clinical procedures earlier in their dental school practice than in previous classes.

Methods: The number of completed dental procedures the dental students performed the first quarter of their 3rd year (summer quarter) was collected using the college's computer information system for the class of 2007, and the classes of 2004, 2005 and 2006, who did not have the benefit of early clinic courses.

Results: Results indicate that students who completed early clinic courses performed approximately 93% more clinical procedures in summer quarter than students in prior classes who had not taken early clinic courses. Also, clinic income increased by approximately 100% in summer quarter, compared with the average summer quarter clinic income of the prior 3 years. Procedures typically completed later in the third year, such as crowns and post and cores, were being completed in their first quarter by the students who have had the early clinic courses.

Conclusion: Providing clinical training and experience for Ohio State dental students earlier in their curriculum allows for increased clinical productivity. Production reports will continue to be collected and used for future study and comparison.