Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Knowledge of paediatric dentistry by recently-qualified general dentists: a pilot study

  • Published:
European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim: To determine an overview of opinions and knowledge of paediatric dentistry amongst a group of recently-qualified dentists working within the Scottish Hospital Dental Service. Study design: A prospective questionnaire-based survey undertaken at Dundee Dental Hospital and School, NHS Tayside, Scotland. The survey evaluated dentists’ opinion of managing the child patient and the location of dental treatment as well as knowledge of trauma, minor oral surgery, developmental disorders, mixed dentition problems and joint paediatric/orthodontic scenarios. Results: Data were available for 15 dentists (M: 7; F: 8), median age 25.00 (interquartile range 25.4, 27.2) years. Of the respondents, 73.3% enjoyed treating children, although concerns regarding the management of both dental trauma and paediatric minor oral surgery cases were noted by 93.3% and 100% of dentists respectively. Concerning the location of treatment for the child patient, 66.7% believed that this should be ‘shared-care’ between the general dental practitioners (GDP) and Community Dental Service (CDS), whilst 20.0% and 13.3% observed that this should be undertaken within the CDS and by the GDP respectively. None of the dentists felt that treatment should be undertaken either privately or within the hospital services. Overall, dentists were best able to answer questions relating to mixed dentition and paediatric/orthodontic problems and least able to do so for minor oral surgical conditions. Conclusion: This pilot study offers baseline data regarding both opinions and also knowledge of paediatric dentistry amongst a group of recently-qualified dentists. Further educational opportunities in this discipline at the postgraduate level may be beneficial.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Finucane D, Nunn JH, O’Connell AC. Paediatric dentistry experience of the first cohort of students to graduate from Dublin Dental School and Hospital under the new curriculum. Int J Paediatr Dent 2004; 14:402–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • General Dental Council (UK). The First Five Years: A Framework for Undergraduate Dental Education. 2002.

  • General Dental Council (UK). Annual Report. 2005.

  • Hjorting-Hansen E, Dent D. The future dental educational process. J Dent Educ 1996; 60:778–82.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jones AV, Franklin CD. An analysis of oral and maxillofacial pathology found in children over a 30-year period. Int J Paediatr Dent 2006; 16:19–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mathias S, Koerber A, Fadavi S, Punwani I. Specialty and sex as predictors of depression in dentists. J Am Dent Assoc 2005; 136:1388–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klinberg G, Dahllof G, Erlandsson Al et al. A survey of specialist prediatric dental seminars in Sweden. Int J Paediatric Dent 2006; 16:89–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moles DR, Simper RD, Bedi R. Dental negligence: a study of cases assessed at one specialised advisory practice. Brit Dent J 1998; 184:130–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myers HL, Myers LB. ‘It’s difficult being a dentist’: stress and health in the general dental practitioner. Brit Dent J 2004; 197:89–93; discussion 83; quiz 100-1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Patel J, Fox K, Grieveson B, Youngson CC. Undergraduate training as preparation for vocational training in England: a survey of vocational dental practitioners’ and their trainers’ views. Brit Dent J 2006; Suppl: 9–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pine CM, Adair PM, Burnside G,et al. Barriers to the treatment of childhood caries perceived by dentists working in different countries. Community Dent Health 2004; 21:112–20.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodd HD. Change in undergraduate experience in clinical pediatric dentistry. J Dent Educ 1994; 58:367–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seddon RP. Undergraduate experience of clinical procedures in paediatric dentistry in a UK dental school during 1997–2001. Eur J Dent Educ 2004; 8:172–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • The British Society of Paediatric Dentistry. Report on Consultants and Specialists in Paediatric Dentistry. 2005.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Dundee Dental Hospital, Dundee, UK

    J. Foley

Authors
  1. J. Foley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Foley.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Foley, J. Knowledge of paediatric dentistry by recently-qualified general dentists: a pilot study. Eur Arch Paediatr Dent 8, 167–170 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03262589

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03262589

Key words

Search

Navigation