Pre-clinical Practical Experiences in Dentistry

The first two years of dental school are very intriguing. The first and second years are more of about learning basic human Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology and Biochemistry along with dental subjects. Pre-clinical exercises are actually correlated with clinical practice and are meant for preparing to cope up with stress in clinical years.

Basic Science: Anatomy practical is the most interesting among all the basic subjects. As they say, all about learning from the dead. Dissection is fun but the smell of the cadaver remains for days. Physiology is okay till hematology enters (I had to donate a drop of my blood every single time in my group). In Pharmacology, there used to be problem-based learning and it is one of the most effective methods of learning. Pathology and Microbiology are all about slides. In biochemistry (used to be boring) we had some practical with reagents. (I don’t even remember what exercises were done).

Dental Materials: As the name suggests itself, there are going to be lots and lots of dental materials. At first, we think what are all these and why we are doing these. We have come here to see patients, haven’t we? Everything seems overwhelming. But, practical in dental materials is crucial as it sets the base for your handwork in the coming years. Also, the worst part is, even if you have completed your work beautifully, there is no chance to get it signed without viva.

Pre-clinical Prosthodontics: Pre-clinical Prosthodontics as I’ve found is quite tough. The laboratory process of fabricating two sets of complete denture in the entire second year is more than hectic. It was literally a nightmare for me because both the sets of my complete denture busted down. It still hurts thinking about it. Still, to all intents and purposes, the stressful situation has provided a conceptual background for clinical exercises.

Pre-clinical Operative Dentistry: Pre-clinical Operative Dentistry incorporates cavity preparation and restoration in plaster model and typhodont teeth set in the Second year and in extracted tooth in the third year. Believe me or not this is actually easier than Pre-clinical Prosthodontics.  It is one of my favorite practical subjects as the exercises were to be completed during our class hours. We didn’t have to carry our incomplete works to home and stress out there.

Oral Anatomy: Oral anatomy practical comprises of Tooth carving and Oral Histology. Tooth carving is fun until we happen to break the tooth. I only have memories of tons of unapproved wax teeth and remaining wax flakes. For Oral histology, observing the slides was an essential task.

Everyone has a unique experience of their own. Basic science is as much significant as clinical science because of the clinical applicability which sheds light to that we need to frequently revisit our pre-clinical work in clinical years.