The learning environment at a public university in northern Chile: how is dental education perceived by students? / El ambiente de aprendizaje en una universidad pública del norte de Chile: ¿cómo perciben los estudiantes la formación en odontología?

ABSTRACT. Introduction: the learning environment is considered essential in health sciences careers due to its significant influence on students overall learning achievements. The DREEM questionnaire was developed as a tool to obtain this environment's profile. In Chile, the learning environment has been studied in medical schools but no information is available on the field of public dentistry schools. The goal was to determine the students' perception of the learning environment in the dental career at Arturo Prat University in Iquique (Chile), based on the DREEM questionnaire. Methods: the Spanish version of DREEM was applied to 103 volunteers. Students were grouped in three levels: basic (first year), pre-clinical (second and third years) and clinical (fourth and fifth years). Data were processed and scores were determined for each level and for each DREEM domain (learning, teacher, academic perception, atmosphere, and social perception) which constitutes the learning environment. The Tukey test was used to determine statistical differences between groups. Results: no significant differences were found between the basic and the pre-clinical levels, but statistical differences were found at the clinical level. The overall score was 117.81/200, meaning a "more positive than negative" environment, despite a decrease in perception from the basic to the clinical level. Conclusion: the learning environment is perceived positively by students, despite a decreasing perception from the basic to the clinical level, mostly due to psychosocial factors.

RESUMEN. Introducción: el ambiente de aprendizaje se considera esencial en las carreras de ciencias de la salud debido a su significativa influencia en los logros académicos de los estudiantes. El cuestionario DREEM fue desarrollado como una herramienta para obtener el perfil de dicho ambiente. En Chile, se ha estudiado el ambiente de aprendizaje en las escuelas de medicina, pero no existe información en el campo de las escuelas públicas de odontología. El objetivo del presente estudio consistió en determinar la percepción de los estudiantes sobre el ambiente de aprendizaje en la carrera de Odontología de la Universidad Arturo Prat de Iquique (Chile), con base en el cuestionario DREEM. Métodos: se aplicó la versión española de DREEM a 103 voluntarios. Los estudiantes se agruparon en tres niveles: básico (primer año), preclínico (segundo y tercer años) y clínico (cuarto y quinto años). Se procesaron los datos y se determinaron los puntajes para cada nivel y para cada dominio del cuestionario DREEM (aprendizaje, profesor, percepción académica, ambiente y percepción social) que hace parte del ambiente de aprendizaje. Se utilizó la prueba de Tukey para determinar diferencias estadísticas entre los grupos. Resultados: no se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los niveles básico y preclínico, pero se hallaron diferencias estadísticas en el nivel clínico. La puntuación total fue de 117.81/200, lo que significa que hay un entorno "más positivo que negativo", a pesar de una disminución en la percepción del nivel básico al clínico. Conclusión: el ambiente de aprendizaje es percibido positivamente por los estudiantes, a pesar de una percepción decreciente desde el nivel básico hasta el clínico, sobre todo debido a factores psicosociales.

A Step-by-Step Conservative Approach for CAD-CAM Laminate Veneers.

The use of CAD/CAM technology has allowed the fabrication of ceramic restorations efficiently and with predictable results. Lithium disilicate is a type of glass ceramic material that can be used for the elaboration of laminate veneers, being monolithic restorations which require characterization through a covering ceramic in order to achieve acceptable esthetic results. The next case report shows a predictable clinical protocol for the rehabilitation of the anterior teeth through the preparation of CAD/CAM veneers (e.max CAD, Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtenstein) which have been characterized by a nanofluorapatite ceramic (e.max Ceram, Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtenstein) through the layering technique.

A Novel Technique for Bulk-Fill Resin-Based Restorations: Achieving Function and Esthetics in Posterior Teeth.

Advances in the mechanical properties of composite resins have allowed for their use in posterior teeth. Conventional resins have several problems associated with polymerization shrinkage stress. The development of "bulk-fill" resins has allowed for their use in single increments up to depths of 4 mm, with very low polymerization shrinkage stress. Nevertheless, differences in anatomy and the desire for optimal esthetics present unique difficulties. This article describes a step-by-step technique using flowable bulk-fill resin as a substitute for dentin in a single increment, together with a high-reflective-index resin to restore enamel and decrease clinical time, obtaining anatomically and esthetically acceptable results without detriment to the mechanical properties required to restore the functionality of the posterior teeth.