Dental students learn the profession in a real clinical environment!

Drawing attention to the importance of supporting theoretical knowledge with strong clinical experience in dental education, Prof. Ergün Yücel, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, stated that students' encounter with real cases during their education is decisive in their professional development. 
Prof. Yücel noted that the Faculty's application clinics, preclinical laboratories, classrooms, and the Dental Hospital are located within the same building, and said, “Our students have the opportunity to see and apply what they learn in theory in the clinic. Thanks to our SSI agreement, our patient numbers are continuous. Our students get the chance to see a wide variety of cases from different age groups and with different diseases. The more cases they see before graduation, the stronger they start their profession.”
 

Prof. Ergün Yücel, Dean of Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry, evaluated the importance of practice-oriented education, the clinical experience provided to students by the Dental Hospital, and the role of technological infrastructure in training future dentists.

“Our students learn their profession through real patient experience”

Prof. Ergün Yücel emphasized that dental education is not a field that can be learned only in classrooms, stating that combining a student's theoretical knowledge with real cases is one of the most important stages of professional development.

Prof. Yücel stated that Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry places great importance on practical education, saying, “Thanks to our experienced academicians in their fields, our students not only receive theoretical knowledge; they also learn their profession through real patient experience. Getting to know the clinical environment, encountering different cases, and experiencing clinical decision-making processes under the supervision of their academicians enables students to be much better prepared for after graduation.”

The Dental Hospital offers students a wide variety of cases

Prof. Yücel emphasized that Üsküdar University Dental Hospital is one of the most important advantages in the education process, noting that the SSI agreement, in particular, offers students significant clinical experience in terms of patient and case variety.

Prof. Yücel said, “Thanks to our SSI agreement, our patient numbers are continuous. Our students get the chance to see a wide variety of cases from very different age groups and with different diseases. Dentistry is a practice-based profession. The more cases they see before graduation, the stronger they start their profession.”

Clinics, laboratories, and classrooms in the same building

Prof. Yücel stated that the faculty's physical structure facilitates the simultaneous conduct of theory and practice, adding that having the Dental Hospital, application clinics, preclinical laboratories, and classrooms within the same building is a significant advantage for students.

Prof. Yücel stated, “Our clinics, our Dental Hospital, our classrooms, and our preclinical laboratories are located within the same building. Thus, our students can easily combine theory and practice within the same day. This integrated structure significantly contributes to the quality of education.”

Students prepare in preclinical settings first, then meet the clinic

Prof. Yücel, highlighting the importance of gradually developing manual dexterity and practical competency in dental education, noted that preclinical laboratories play a critical role in preparing students for the clinical period.

Prof. Yücel stated that students prepare for the clinical stage by reinforcing their theoretical knowledge with practice, thus finding the opportunity to develop their professional skills before encountering real patients.

Digital dentistry as part of the education process

Prof. Yücel emphasized that the technological transformation in dentistry has also changed the education model, stating that future dentists must master digital systems in addition to traditional clinical skills.

“Dentistry is a very rapidly changing professional field,” said Prof. Yücel. “Looking at the next 10 years, manual dexterity alone will no longer be sufficient. In addition, being integrated with technology, being able to use digital systems, and even understanding artificial intelligence are becoming much more important. We are preparing our students not only for today's but also for tomorrow's world of dentistry.”

From diagnosis to treatment planning with digital systems…

Prof. Yücel stated that digital technologies make diagnosis and treatment processes faster and more effective, and emphasized the importance of students becoming familiar with these systems during their education for post-graduation professional adaptation.

Prof. Yücel said, “With the development of digital systems, treatment planning becomes faster and more accurate. Our students work on digital images during their education, learn to perform analyses, and make their clinical decisions more consciously. They graduate seeing and experiencing digital systems.”

“Artificial intelligence becomes a second pair of eyes for the physician”

Prof. Yücel, stating that AI-supported systems have also become one of the important tools of modern dentistry, pointed out that these technologies should be considered as tools that support the physician's decision-making processes, rather than replacing the physician.

“Today, just as in many areas of life, artificial intelligence is increasingly used in dentistry, both in clinical practices and in student education,” said Prof. Yücel. “Especially in early diagnosis, AI-supported systems assist the physician like a second pair of eyes. This helps prevent certain findings that might otherwise be overlooked from being missed.”

Students who participate in scientific production, not just consume knowledge

“We emphasize that our students should be individuals who produce knowledge, not just consume it,” said Prof. Yücel. “We organize project-based student congresses, encourage our students to participate in national and international congresses, and support their active involvement in scientific studies. We aim for our graduates to be dentists who research, are interested in health technologies, and can contribute to science.”

Support for DUS and academic career goals

Prof. Yücel also drew attention to the post-graduation specialization process, stating, “The opening of DUS quotas in our faculty is a significant advantage. In addition, we support our students' preparation processes for the specialization exam. We offer a strong infrastructure to our students aiming for an academic career.”

“No matter how advanced technology becomes, humans are at the center”

Prof. Ergün Yücel emphasized that the dentist of the future must possess clinical experience, technological knowledge, and human skills simultaneously, concluding his words as follows:

“No matter how advanced technology becomes, humans are at the center of dentistry. Communication, trust, and empathy with the patient are the most important elements of our human-centered profession. We prioritize that our students graduate as physicians who have strong clinical experience, can use digital technologies, follow scientific developments, but also understand their patients. Our students learn not only how to treat but also how to communicate correctly with patients.”