Shaping the Future of Dental Education: Transformative Strategies and Global Perspectives

Dental education has experienced unprecedented transformation, driven by the demand to enhance oral health care delivery globally. Traditionally, training has relied upon didactic instruction followed by clinical internships; however, evidence from the Institute of Medicine and the U.S. Surgeon General underscores the necessity for innovation in health professional education. Incorporation of these novel teaching methodologies have transformed the educational experiences of our students, including the incorporation of interprofessional education. Pedagogical strategies continue to evolve, and advancement in artificial intelligence foreshadows future shifts in content delivery and clinical training models. Despite substantial progress in recent decades—there remains ongoing discussion on optimal instructional strategies and their impact on student competence and patient care outcomes.This Research Topic aims to elucidate contemporary pedagogical strategies and innovations leading to best practices or influencing the education oral health professionals worldwide. Specific objectives include investigating effective methods for content delivery, evaluating the integration and impact of technology in the curriculum, exploring innovative clinical training models, and assessing best practices for learner evaluation. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a comprehensive understanding of how these novel approaches not only enhance dental education but also contribute to improvements globally in oral health.To gather further insights within the scope of transformative or innovative pedagogical strategies, submissions should address the development, application, and outcomes of innovative teaching strategies and technological integration in various educational contexts, excluding unrelated disciplines. We welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Integration and assessment of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, teledentistry, and digital dentistry in dental curricula.• Evidence-based models demonstrating successful implementation of active and problem-based learning methodologies.• Pedagogical strategies promoting interprofessional education within dental programs to enhance collaborative patient management.• Implementation of novel simulation strategies such as haptics or standardized patients.• Innovative approaches to curriculum delivery optimizing student performance and patient care outcomes.• Designing and validating novel methods for learner assessment utilizing Entrustable Professional Activities.• Adoption of alternative and/or authentic assessment in didactic and clinical teaching, including challenging traditional grading schema.• Integration and assessment of learner wellbeing into the curricular workflow.• International comparative analyses highlighting successful pedagogical innovations and their implications in dental education. Topic editors: Keith A. Mays, Lorel Burns Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/70597/shaping-the-future-of-dental-education-transformative-strategies-and-global-perspectives