The International Journal of Prosthodontics 718
CLINICAL
RESEARCH
Correspondence to:
Dr Sang Park
Associate Dean for Dental
Education
Harvard School of Dental Medicine
188 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA
02115
Email: sang_park@hsdm.harvard.edu
Submitted October 8, 2021;
accepted February 11, 2022.
©2022 by Quintessence
Publishing Co Inc.
Purpose: To compare predoctoral student performance in restorative dentistry related to cur-
ricular changes implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate the impact of
remote education on performance in didactic and preclinical examinations and objective structured
clinical examinations (OSCEs). Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of 172
students, all members of the DMD graduating classes from 2017 to 2021. Scores in the Final Re-
storative Treatment (FRTx) course, subdivided into didactic and preclinical lab work, and the OSCEs
were assessed and compared between pre-pandemic students and during-pandemic students.
Results: Performance in the preclinical lab exercises was statistically significantly higher in the
during-pandemic cohort than in the pre-pandemic cohort after adjusting for students’ gender and
admission scores. Performance in restorative dentistry as measured by the OSCE was not statisti-
cally different among during-pandemic students compared to the pre-pandemic students. It was
observed that students were more efficient and engaged during the more limited lab sessions with
the increased student-to-faculty ratio that allowed for more feedback. Conclusion: Although virtual
education cannot replace in-person experiences, this model served students satisfactorily during
the COVID-19 pandemic, with added support structures such as flexible scheduling, interactive
sessions, and additional small-group discussions to maintain academic performance in predoctoral
education. Int J Prosthodont 2022;35:718–723. doi: 10.11607/ijp.8053
Predoctoral Student Performance in a Restorative
Dentistry Course During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Peter Grieco, DDS, DMSc
Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston,
Massachusetts, USA.
Olivia Watrous, BS, DMD(c)
Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Muath Aldosari, BDS, MPH, DMSc
Department of Periodontics and Community Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Saud University,
Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Oral Health Policy and Epidemiology, Harvard School of Dental
Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
Hiroe Ohyama, DDS, MMSc, PhD, DMD
Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials Sciences, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston,
Massachusetts, USA.
Sang Park, DDS, MMSc
Dental Education, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
T
he coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic introduced significant challenges for dental
professionals, educators, and students globally. Because the virus is transmitted
primarily through respiratory droplets, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the
American Dental Association (ADA), and the American Dental Education Association
made strict guidelines for dental institutions regarding patient care and predoctoral
education.
1,2
Dental schools had to adjust their curriculum according to the safety
guidelines, which involved switching the educational platform to a virtual format,
restricting in-person preclinical simulation instruction, and limiting patient care to
urgent or emergency cases.
3
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