Skip to main content
2025 AAPD Annual Meeting Main banner
Cheng Crowns
Information & Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
Ticket Required
Ticket Required
Sold Out
Sold Out
Recorded Session
Recorded Session
Rate ePoster

Other

48 - Pediatric Dentists’ Perspectives on Clinical Training Obtained During Residency Program

Friday, May 23, 2025
11:20 AM - 11:40 AM MDT
Has Audio
Abstract:

Purpose: To gather practicing pediatric dentists’ opinions on their clinical training during residency and identify potential improvements in their residency programs.





Methods: A 15-question survey was sent via SurveyMonkey to active practicing members of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (N=6,679). The questions examined participants' residency experiences, current practices, and their preparedness for various clinical procedures. Data collection spanned 12 weeks.





Results: Response rate was 7% (N=454), with gender distribution of 53% females (N=241) and 46% males (N=209), with majority (59%, N=266) having practiced greater than 10 years. Pediatric focused group practice (44%, N=199), and suburban areas (62%, N=281) were settings most practiced. A Likert scale survey instrument (1= lowest, 5= highest) assessed both the frequency of performance, and the level of preparation for 25 dental procedures. The most frequently performed procedures were: stainless steel crowns, nitrous oxide administration, and vital pulp therapy. These three procedures each had a mean preparedness Likert score of 4.8, indicating well prepared for clinical practice. Conversely, the least frequently performed procedures were: endodontic treatment, laser dentistry, and interceptive orthodontics. Respondents felt least prepared for laser dentistry (1.6 for hard tissue, 1.8 for soft tissue), endodontic treatment (2.2 for posterior teeth, 2.8 for anterior teeth), and Zirconia crowns (2.4). Eighty nine percent of respondents (N=405) reported being satisfied/very satisfied with their residency training.



Conclusions: Pediatric dentists generally felt their residency program adequately prepared them for clinical practice. However, many reported insufficient training for newer treatment options like laser dentistry and Zirconia crowns.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: