Dentistry

Purpose of Dental Education

Fundamental purpose of dental education is to help our students transform into dental professionals and a member of healthcare team; make sure that, after graduation, they will show a holistic approach to patient care, be fully aware that oral conditions have a direct impact on overall health and disease, take effective and preventive medicin​e measures when delivering dental services; and ensure that they will be capable of using clinical judgment and decision-making skills, have the necessary skills to diagnose, treat and prevent the oral health problems and disease both at individual and collective levels.

Another important objective is to help our students maintain their dental competencies by teaching them to learn and making sure that they adopt the lifelong learning as a core principal.

COMPETENCIES THAT DENTAL STUDENTS MUST ATTAIN PRIOR TO PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION 

To be able to manifest attributes such as professional integrity, competency, impartiality, responsibility, respect and sense of service; to adhere to and promote the standards of professionalism and ethical behaviour,

To have critical thinking skills that are necessary to keep up with academic publications, the ability to evaluate the research articles and books with a critical eye; to be capable of connecting the latest research findings with the daily practice of dentistry,

To have the ability to maintain an effective communication with other healthcare professionals, dental team members, patients & relatives in terms of interpersonal communication and social skills,

To adopt a more preventive approach; undertake any necessary role and responsibility to maintain and improve oral health;

To properly manage the dental office and promote good team work by taking patient safety and clinical risk management into account;

To be aware of the importance of taking anamnesis in dentistry for the diagnosis of oral diseases; to be capable of using oral examination and auxiliary diagnosis methods; to be able to recognize and interpret the relationship between patient’s general health problems and the respective treatment plan;

To be able to design an alternative treatment plan for a patient by taking into consideration the health risks of poor oral health and provide the patient with necessary information on advantages and disadvantages of this plan, to work together with patient to develop a treatment plan;

To be able to provide quality oral health care to infants, children, adolescents, adults, as well as to women, elders and people with special needs;

Use maximum psychomotor skills, high technology and evidence-based dentistry when delivering oral healthcare.​

Education Policy

In order to fully meet the educational needs of our students, our school's curriculum is based on the definition of “dentist" recognized by worldwide associations for dental education and the competencies that every dentist should have and maintain after graduation. Our main objective is to provide our students with the essential 21st century knowledge and skills that would allow them to practice their profession anywhere in the world. Our graduates will have the knowledge and skills they will need to deliver high-tech dentistry service and domiciliary oral health care service, even in the event of natural disasters and other emergency situations.

That is why, in developing our curriculum, we attach the utmost importance to make sure that our graduates are well equipped with the competencies required by international associations for dental education (www.adee.org / www.adea.org); and in line with this objective, AU School of Dentistry developed a curriculum framework that is designed to provide our students with the core competencies necessary for a successful professional life.

The dental education we offer involves that our faculty use teaching methods/techniques to help ensure that all students are actively thinking, regularly ask questions, consequently, learning in the classroom. Group studies, making learning our first priority and active education are among the other approaches we have strictly adopted. Accordingly, we estimate very high success rates in final exams.

We want to get to know our students at different levels, not only academically, but personally and socially as well. To that end, the establishment of student clubs will be strongly supported by our faculty, which will enable our students to involve in extracurricular activities while they continue their studies.

Our students will take an active part in social responsibility projects and research activities to be conducted by our Faculty, and will have chance to present their work, their achievements at Student Days.

In conclusion, AU School of Dentistry's educational policy is based on a student-oriented approach that takes great notice of students' every need, helping them to stay academically and socially active and energetic at all times. What we expect from our students in return is that they prove themselves as hard working and productive students in an environment of mutual love, respect and trust.