Challenges of changing the country's dental education system: A Threat or an opportunity (A qualitative study)

One of the goals of dental education is to train capable dentists and to improve the efficiency of the educational system towards this goal, it is necessary to change the educational system. The aim of this study was to investigate the challenges of changing the dental education system in the country.

Methods and Materials: 

This study was performed qualitatively. Data were collected by reviewing documents and semi-structured interviews with purposeful snowball sampling with the participation of 21 dental education experts and the interview texts were analyzed by guided qualitative content analysis. The validity of the research was validated, transferable and verifiable.

The strengths and weaknesses of the current dental education were examined in order to provide an efficient educational method based on the 3 main categories of educators,trainees / educational fields and clients. Suggestions for addressing weaknesses can provide the necessary context for community-based education. Integration of educational groups, providing training in a comprehensive clinic, empowering professors, using new educational methods are the main solutions

To train capable students, we need to redesign education. Changes in training methods and evaluation methods turn threats into opportunities and provide more efficient opportunities for graduates to provide better services