Dental Undergraduate Finals Requirements in Restorative Dentistry

Objectives: The objective of the study was to ascertain the requirements in restorative dentistry that undergraduate dental students have to fulfil in order to sit the Finals examinations in dental schools in the UK and Eire. Methods: Fifteen anonymised questionnaires were sent to university departments of restorative dentistry in each of the undergraduate dental schools in the UK and Eire. The questionnaires were divided into two sections. The first section concerned numerical information regarding total numbers of procedures that were required to be completed in all spheres of undergraduate restorative dentistry. The second section of the questionnaire was designed to ascertain information as to how decisions are made with respect to an undergraduate's readiness to sit the Finals examination in restorative dentistry (such as continual assessment and/or competency tests). Results: A total of 15 replies were received for analysis; this constituted a 100 % response rate. Several institutions emphasised that they do not have ‘requirements' as such, but provide guidelines as to what should be achieved. Six institutions did not have set numerical requirements for direct placement restorations or bridges. The number of direct placement restorations required at the other 9 institutions ranged from 50 to 160. Five institutions did not have numerical requirements for dentures; 4 institutions did not set numerical targets for crowns, veneers or inlays/onlays or endodontics. In institutions where numerical requirements were not used, forms of competency tests were completed. The requirements across all institutions for periodontology, integrated treatment planning and completed cases were ill-defined. Conclusion: This study shows that there is a disparity amongst institutions in UK and Eire with regards to finals requirements in restorative dentistry. Arguably, such requirements should be similar between institutions and should be closely mapped to the GDC's ‘First Five Years' learning outcomes (for the UK institutions).