The Experience and Perceptions of Dental Students in Treating Adults with Developmental Disabilities

This study investigated the experience and perception of dental students with regards to treating Adults with Developmental Disabilities (AWDDs). Three groups were interviewed: experts, students who had no clinical training to treat AWDDs, and students who had completed their clinical training to treat AWDDs through a rotation at Mount Sinai Hospital (MSH) dental clinic. Motivations for working with AWDDs were described including health advocacy and social responsibility. The informal curriculum impacted the formation of student expectations. The rotation was described as a transformative learning experience. Alignment between students and experts suggested that the clinical training is adequate. The misalignment provided insight into areas for improvement. Additionally, a survey was sent out to the ten dental schools in Canada to quantify the number of clinical and didactic hours students receive in this subject matter. The survey showed a wide range of time dedicated to this subject matter across Canadian dental schools.M.Sc