Perception of Clinical Dental Students and Interns towards Prosthodontics and factors influencing its' choice as a future career

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the perception of clinical dental students and interns towards the specialty of prosthetic dentistry and also assess factors that may influence choice of prosthodontics as a future career
Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive cross sectional study of clinical dental students and interns at the University of Benin and  University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Questions focused on the perceptions and factors that influenced choice of the specialty of prosthodontics as a future career. Data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 17.0. The analysis was done using frequency distribution, cross tabulations, test of significance with chi square. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: A total of 122 respondents consisting of 21.3% penultimate students, 41.0% final year students and 37.7% interns returned filled questionnaires. Majority (93.4%) reported they know who a prosthodontist is and 91.8% agreed that there was a need for more prosthodontists in Nigeria. Less than half (35.2%) of the respondents felt that they were well prepared in prosthodontics and 77% thought they did not have enough exposure to prosthodontics. There was statistically significant association between respondents' perception of preparedness and exposure to prosthodontics and choice of prosthodontics as a future career.
Conclusion: There is a need to improve dental students and interns' exposure and preparedness to prosthodontics.

Key words: Perception, dental students, interns, prosthodontics and career.