Evaluation of dental students' perspectives of specialization in periodontology

Journal of Dental Sciences and Education Original Article DOI: 10.51271/JDSE-0041 Evaluation of dental students’ perspectives of specialization in periodontology @®Muhammed Furkan Ozcan, ®Kubilay Baris, ®Meltem Karsryaka Hendek, ®Ebru Olgun Department of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, Kirikkale University, Kirikkale, Turkiye Cite this article: Ozcan MF, Baris K, Karstyaka Hendek M, Olgun E. Evaluation of dental students’ perspectives of specialization in periodontology. J Dent Sci Educ. 2024;2(4):91-96. Corresponding Author: Meltem Karsiyaka Hendek, mltmkrsyk@yahoo.com Received: 04/11/2024 ° Accepted: 19/12/2024 ¢ Published: 22/12/2024 ABSTRACT Aims: The aim of this study was to define the perspective of dentistry students on specialization and to evaluate their thoughts and attitudes regarding specialization in the Periodontology department. Methods: Our study was an epidemiological descriptive study consisting of a questionnaire applied to 274 students (167 female, 107 male) studying in the 3", 4" and 5" years at Kirikkale University Faculty of Dentistry. Demographic data and students’ perspectives on dentistry were evaluated and their thoughts and attitudes regarding specialization in periodontology were determined. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistical methods and the Chi-square test. Results: A high percentage of students (73.8%) participating in the study indicated that they were considering specialization in dentistry. It was reported that the most important criteria considered in the selection of specialization were interest in the specialization (53.5%) and job opportunities/financial returns of specialization education (32.0%). The Periodontology department (16.3%) was the 4'" most desired department to specialize in. 35.6% of the students included in the study stated that the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery department was the most important department in terms of patient care, while 21.8% stated that the Periodontology department was the third most important department in terms of dentistry. The students stated that they were most impressed by the Periodontology department with clinical experience (44.4%). Conclusion: According to our study results, it was determined that students’ first perceptions about dentistry began to form during their clinical periods and that factors such as their clinical experiences and the influence of faculty members were effective in their career choices. Keywords: Dental specialties, dentistry, periodontology INTRODUCTION Dentistry, one of the most respected professions in the world and in Turkey, is changing and developing to provide better service to patients, just like every other branch. For years, dentists in our country have successfully applied standard dental treatments. However, in complicated and difficult cases, patients’ efforts to reach specialist doctors in their fields have created some needs.’ In parallel with this demand, since 2012, dentistry faculties in our country have started to provide specialist training in 8 different branches, just like in medical medicine. A dentist with a 5-year dentistry education can then work in a specific field for 3-4 years, receive the title of specialist dentist, and continue his/her career as an academician at universities or as a specialist dentist in private oral and dental health clinics.’ Various factors have been identified in the dental literature regarding whether to specialize in dentistry and the choice of specialization. Factors such as social or professional status; higher financial income, job security, social status in society, personal interest, and past experiences have been reported as the most important factors affecting specialization choices. However, the demographic characteristics of a population are also important determinants affecting the motivation and future expectations of dentistry students.** The interest in specialization in dentistry in Turkiye is increasing day by day due to the increase in the number of dentists graduating in recent years and the tendency to specialize in certain areas in order to keep up with market conditions. In a study evaluating specialisation in the field of restorative treatment, 139 4'* and 5" grade students were evaluated. According to the results of the study, it was seen that the most popular specialisation was oral, dental and maxillofacial surgery and 45.3% of the participants chose this field as their first choice. The majority of the participants, 66.9%, reported that they first heard about restorative dentistry in the preclinical department. According to the questionnaire, 47.5% of the students stated that the restorative dentistry This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. BY NC NOD J Dent Sci Educ. 2024;2(4):91-96. Ozcan et al. department was primarily influenced by their clinical experiences.’ In another study, dental students’ perceptions of their speciality areas were evaluate