RESUMEN
PURPOSE: This multi-site study examined dental students' postgraduate plans and factors affecting them, perceptions of pathways with the best future, and whether those postgraduate plans changed during dental school. METHODS: An online survey was made available to all four dental classes (2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021) and advanced standing/international dental students at eight US dental schools. The survey questionnaire consisted of two parts: (1) 14 questions pertaining to demographic information and (2) 11 questions pertaining to career path choices and possible influencing factors. RESULTS: Overall response rate was approximately 38.4% (1459/3800). For those responding 34.0% planned to enroll in a general dentistry residency, followed by associate dentist in a private practice (31.4%), and specialty residency (17.6%). Quality of life, to increase knowledge/clinical skills, and intellectual satisfaction were most often rated extremely important factors; Influence of family members in dentistry and prestigious specialty received the most responses of not important. General dentistry was perceived to have the best future in terms of overall impact on the profession, potential for positive impact on patient's quality of life, and personal quality of life; oral and maxillofacial surgery was believed to have the best future in terms of salary. Students changed their postgraduate plan during dental school 43.0% of the time, with race (p = 0.006) and year of progress toward degree (p < 0.001) being significant associations. CONCLUSIONS: General dentistry remains the most popular pathway. Many dental students change their plans during dental school; a better understanding of these trends and contributing factors may aid development of practice readiness curricula.
Asunto(s)
Calidad de Vida , Estudiantes de Odontología , Selección de Profesión , Odontología General , Humanos , Especialidades Odontológicas , Encuestas y CuestionariosRESUMEN
This case report demonstrates the use of digital technology to communicate with the dental laboratory during the diagnostic and fabrication phases of veneers. Digital technology has made significant advances in dentistry in the last 25 years, and there is great potential for its use in new methods for achieving excellent final restorations. One of these methods involves the use of digital technology in the diagnostic wax-up phase of dental treatment. The wax-up is a valuable, sometimes necessary tool in the cosmetic treatment plan. This esthetic preview allows the clinician to assess and adjust the function, shape, outline, and color of the restoration and to seek the patient's approval for the prosthetic design. The case reviewed in this report involved the fabrication of veneers to restore small maxillary lateral incisors. Digital scans of the existing dentition were sent to the dental laboratory with the request for a digital diagnostic wax-up. The laboratory printed 3-dimensional (3D) models and completed a conventional diagnostic wax-up. After the design was approved by the patient, the maxillary lateral incisors were prepared intraorally, the arch was digitally scanned, and the scans were sent to the dental laboratory with the request for veneer fabrication. The final restorations were made to the specifications of the digital diagnostic wax-up using computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing. The veneer restorations were delivered, and the patient was satisfied with the result. In this case, the dental laboratory completed a conventional diagnostic wax-up from 3D-printed models. Further software improvements might allow easier virtual alteration of existing teeth and thereby enable a fully digital workflow.