A preventive dentistry component in the curriculum of Israeli dental students.

Abstract

A preventive dentistry program conducted by 34 and 27 senior dental students as an integral part of children's clinic was evaluated. At the initial meeting of the three-session program, dental knowledge and oral hygiene levels were all 265 participating children. Follow-up who had participated in the prevent program the previous year and were now continuing their treatments, demonstrated significantly improved dental knowledge oral hygiene as compared to new patients. All of the children demonstrated significantly improved dental knowledge and oral hygiene at the final session of the program. The effectiveness on the participating children, this program was also successful in being accepted by students and faculty as a regular component of the clinical curriculum. The model presented here will be modified and improved on for future continued implementation.