Assessment of Educational Content of Isfahan Dental School Regarding Geriatric Dentistry

Given the importance of theoretical and clinical geriatric education in dental schools, this study aimed to evaluate the sufficiency of geriatric education in Isfahan Dental School.
In this descriptive cross-sectional study, all the departments of Isfahan Dental School, except for pediatric department, were included. The checklist of the study developed in four sections, including the frequency and content of courses, clinical education and recommendations, were submitted to the department heads. In addition, the syllabus of each department was evaluated for special geriatric titles and topics. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics.
Geriatric dentistry as an independent course was presented in only two departments of public oral health and restorative dentistry. Departments of public oral health, restorative dentistry and periodontology presented specific geriatric topics in their course plans but in other departments (except for orthodontics) geriatric topics were integrated into other topics. The highest coverage of geriatric dentistry was seen in the syllabi of maxillofacial pathology and surgery departments. There were no topics or contents about geriatric dentistry in the department of orthodontics.
According to the results, it seems the proportion of geriatric dentistry in courses and topics of undergraduate education is not sufficient and there should be policies to increase the amount of theoretical and clinical education in geriatric dentistry in Isfahan Dental School.