Elective disciplines – an important component in the formation of professinal competences of future doctors – pediatric dentists

The article investigates actual issues of introduction of elective disciplines to the educational process of dental students. According to the changes in the political, economic and social spheres of our country, the labor market requires the training of highly skilled specialists who have a high level of knowledge, skills and competences in a particular industry, could make decision in standard and non-standard situations, bear responsibility for them in the professional activity. That is why the importance issue of the development and formation of today’s education is the use of a competence approach.      Elective disciplines have an important role in the formation of the professional competences of future doctors and dentists. The purpose of the study was to reveal the expediency of teaching elective disciplines to students of the Faculty of Dentistry using the example of an elective discipline “Modern technologies in pediatric dentistry” for students of 5th student year. The blocks of elective disciplines that form a variable component of the Educational and Professional program of Dentistry are characterized. The content of the elective discipline “Modern technologies in pediatric dentistry” for students of the 5th year of the Faculty of Dentistry of Bogomolets National Medical University is analyzed. Thematic plans of lectures and practical lessons in the discipline are presented. It is emphasized, that the purpose of studying this elective discipline is the formation of professional competences necessary for high-quality dental treatment of children, including under general anesthesia. The elective discipline “Modern technologies in pediatric dentistry” was introduced into the educational process in 2022/23 acadrmic year and received favorable reviews from students. Further research involves an anonymous survey of students and teachers, interviews with graduates and employers with the aim of improving the content of electives disciplines and the level of their teaching at the departments