Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare pre-clerkship and clerkship groups to evaluate the effects of undergraduate education and clinical clerkship on dental students' perspectives on implant treatment and education. Materials and methods: This survey study was conducted on all dentistry students at two universities in .... Data were collected between June and July 2024 through a digital survey form containing various questionnaires regarding students' knowledge, attitudes, perspectives, and future plans regarding implant treatment and education. All surveys were validated and reliable, with … validity confirmed. Survey data compared responses from pre-clerkship and clerkship groups. Results: A total of 394 students participated in this study. The survey's overall response rate was 43.7%. Of the participants, 55.8% were in the pre-clerkship group, while 44.2% were in the clerkship group. Statistically significant relationships were determined of both self-assessment knowledge and attitude levels related to the pre-clerkship and clerkship groups (p<0.05). The pre-clerkship group often expressed uncertainty, stating phrases like “No knowledge” “I cannot estimate,” or “No opinion,” while the clerkship group demonstrated greater self-confidence. Both groups agreed on the necessity of undergraduate implant education, but the pre-clerkship group (71.9%) preferred the inclusion of clinical practice education more often than the clerkship group (57.8%). Conclusions: This study indicates that a combination of theoretical education and clinical observation in the undergraduate curriculum enhances students' perception of implant treatment and education. However, there is still a need to improve theoretical education and incorporate practical application into the curriculum to achieve optimal outcomes.
Keywords: Education, Students, Knowledge, Attitude, Dental Implants
