Orthodontic confidence of senior dental students: A study of 2 US dental schools

The purpose of the study was to gauge the orthodontic confidence levels of senior dental students from the University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry and one other US dental school (which will be referred to as XYZ Dental School) whom have completed the necessary courses that their respective schools require them to pass in order to be eligible recipients of the D.D.S. degree. This study examines teaching contents and time allocation within the undergraduate orthodontic curriculum at both schools, as well as a survey, filled out by their senior dental students whom have successfully completed such courses, concerning their confidence in a variety of orthodontic concepts and treatment. The course directors at each school were contacted and interviewed in detail about the nature of the course. A paper survey questionnaire was distributed to each of the 144 members of the USC D.D.S. Class of 2010. Senior dental students at XYZ Dental School were contacted through email and asked to fill out an electronic copy of the survey posted on the website "Survey Monkey" (surveymonkey.com). Results indicated that the 4th year dental students surveyed assessed themselves as having a "moderate confidence" level in the majority of survey statements. The students felt the strongest level of confidence in statements addressing "occlusion" and the lowest levels in those statements addressing "orthodontic diagnosis". In regards to ranking the clinical specialties according to confidence, both groups of students gave orthodontics the lowest markings.