#1 dental school in US?

[Montserrat]

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According so some residents here, Australian dental schools are way better than here in the States. Considering that they say it with a cool accent, it must be true.

 

[armorshell]

According so some residents here, Australian dental schools are way better than here in the States. Considering that they say it with a cool accent, it must be true.

"You call that a dental school? This is a dental school"

 

[armorshell]

Seriously? Rankings are irrelevant. Outcomes are what matters, and in this age if you truly think there are many dental institutions that can offer a significantly different education you're deluding yourself.

There are far more important things to worry about like how much money it costs to attend, location, how much money it costs to attend, family/friends, and even how much money it costs to attend!

 

[Montserrat]

Seriously? Rankings are irrelevant. Outcomes are what matters, and in this age if you truly think there are many dental institutions that can offer a significantly different education you're deluding yourself.

There are far more important things to worry about like how much money it costs to attend, location, how much money it costs to attend, family/friends, and even how much money it costs to attend!

You know... I was talking with a professor and residents about this and I dunno about that. There is a finite amount of time in 4 years of dental training, and different schools have different philosophies on how to use that time. This is a bit of an extreme example... but you're a UoP grad, right ? I'm betting your curriculum at UoP is different from our education at Columbia or at Harvard or UConn because of the integration in medical school classes. I've seen some of the course material from other dental schools, and it looks like they are taking a cursory overview of a topic and learning from a high school textbook. There is a stark difference in the depth of material that's studied.

For many of the specialists, they say that it significantly helps their treatment planning of difficult cases in thinking beyond a traditional mold. Knowing more didactically is part of it, and the other part is that knowledge opens the mind a bit. This is probably a philosophical difference between schools and it's effect moreso than the innate character of the students who attend them.

 

[armorshell]

You know... I was talking with a professor and residents about this and I dunno about that. There is a finite amount of time in 4 years of dental training, and different schools have different philosophies on how to use that time. This is a bit of an extreme example... but you're a UoP grad, right ? I'm betting your curriculum at UoP is different from our education at Columbia or at Harvard or UConn because of the integration in medical school classes. I've seen some of the course material from other dental schools, and it looks like they are taking a cursory overview of a topic and learning from a high school textbook. There is a stark difference in the depth of material that's studied.

For many of the specialists, they say that it significantly helps their treatment planning of difficult cases in thinking beyond a traditional mold. Knowing more didactically is part of it, and the other part is that knowledge opens the mind a bit. This is probably a philosophical difference between schools and it's effect moreso than the innate character of the students who attend them.

I never said it wasn't different, I said it wasn't significantly different.

Considering that I'm (unfortunately) taking some 2nd year medical school courses during my OMFS residency gives me some insight into this issue, and I feel that I'm not seeing much that's significantly different than what I learned at Pacific. I'm sure Path will get more in depth as we go along (I'd hope so at least).

Is it more in depth? Probably at some level. Does it significantly change your educational outcome? I can't really see how. Not really sure how being able to differentiate histopathologically between 3 grades of hepatosplenic infarct or being able to identify and identify all the tarsals radiographically are going to affect treatment planning when you're an endodontist. I'd rather spend that time learning advanced endo techniques, working through cases with endo faculty and treating maxillary molars.


Having a medical education could definitely be useful in certain situations, but I wouldn't confuse years 1 and 2 of medical school with a medical education. Ask any physician and they'll tell you that in medical school, clerkships are where the real learning is done and even that pales in comparison to residency.

Also, the background implication that any school other than one where dental students attend class for 2 years with medical students leaves one underprepared to manage their patients medical problems, from a dental standpoint, is ridiculous. On it's face this is the responsibility of EVERY dental school, and a full 2 years of "med school" is by nature superfluous.

I can almost guarantee that's a philosophical difference between schools, but it's also reflective of the students who chose them.

My whole point to this isn't to disparage another school or method of teaching dentistry. My opinion is that everyone should select their school for reasons important to THEM, not to some disembodied ranking system trying to sell ads. For some, the schools where they are integrated into medical school may be more appealing (See Montserrat above), whereas for others, these schools may be unpalatable (see my rant above). My take on the issue: If you're going to PAY OUT to go to a school ,it better have some serious benefits either personally (locations, family) or professionally (full year reduced from education, increased specialty rate*)


*Even though some believe this doesn't exist, I will begrudge it as a reason some people may want to choose certain schools.