Case-based learning will help students to assess, diagnose and design better treatment plans for their patients.
EVEN in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic dentistry professionals soldiered on.
According to Manipal University College Malaysia (MUCM) Faculty of Dentistry dean Professor Dr Abdul Rashid Haji Ismail, when other services were forced to shutter their doors, dental clinics continued to run with strict protocol and standard operating procedures.
“We were receiving calls daily despite the lockdown from patients requesting emergency treatment to relieve pain and attend to their needs. Such is the demand for dental-related services.” he said.
MUCM runs a five-year Bachelor of Dentistry (BDS) with three polyclinics providing a capacity of over 150 dental chairs.
The future of dentistry for this generation
Often viewed as a career that is in service to people but with a work-life balance schedule, dentistry is also a profession that requires an innovative spirit, in addition to a noble heart and an aesthetic eye.
The current generation of future dental surgeons, Gen Z, is brought up in the era of cyber technologies of emerging media, which has also influenced the healthcare system and dental services.
The young people of this generation are needed to innovate and guide the future dental services towards the Internet of Things (IoT) or the Internet of Robotic Things.
Dental students spent most of their time working with patients at the on-campus dental clinic during their clinical years.
The MUCM BDS
One of the oldest providers of private healthcare education in Malaysia, MUCM is cognisant of what the future needs and holds for its students.
Established in 1953 and an extension of Manipal Group from India, its presence in Malaysia will mark its 25th year in 2022.
The BDS programme is anchored around nurturing well-rounded dental surgeons who are clinically strong as they are trained by experienced specialists from each field of dental specialty.
The classrooms and clinic floors are always abuzz with case-based learning (CBL) activities.
“In CBL modules, professors and lecturers shared their many years of clinical experiences and cases seen to train critical and analytical skills in diagnosing and planning for the treatment,” said Dr Abdul Rashid.
“MUCM is also sensitive to changing trends in dental technology and plans to expose students to the technology advancement in dentistry. We are also exploring collaborations with international partners to inculcate our students as global citizens,” he added.
Is dentistry for you?
An important fact to note is that dentistry is a profession that cares for people’s health.
As a professional in healthcare services, particularly in the field of dentistry, the prospects of giving quality life to the community will always be part of the lifecycle of dental surgeons and oral practitioners.
Should you be encouraged by the prospect of being in service to others and healthcare, this might be a career path to consider.
For more information, call 1700 811 662 or visit www.manipal.edu.my
