A new process has begun on the path to becoming a university student. Additional placement preferences for the Higher Education Institutions Exam started as of September 17. The preference process will continue until September 21.
Prof. Ergün Yücel, Dean of Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry, made statements about how students are being prepared for the future of dentistry, supported by clinical experience, digital technology, artificial intelligence, and scientific studies.
Theoretical knowledge meets real cases…
Prof. Ergün Yücel, stating that dental education is not an area that can only be learned in classrooms, said, “Connecting a student's theoretical knowledge with real cases is one of the most important stages of professional development.”
Prof. Yücel stated that they attach great importance to practical training at Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry, saying, “Thanks to our experienced academics in their field, our students do not only receive theoretical knowledge; they 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 academics enables them to be much better prepared for after graduation.”
More cases, a strong start to the profession…
Prof. Yücel emphasized that Üsküdar University Dental Hospital is one of the most important advantages in the education process, noting that the SGK agreement, in particular, offers students significant clinical experience in terms of patient and case diversity.
Prof. Yücel stated, “Thanks to our SGK agreement, our patient numbers show continuity. Our students get the opportunity 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 graduating, the stronger they start in the profession.”
“Students can easily bring theory and practice together on the same day”
Prof. Yücel stated that the faculty's physical structure facilitates the simultaneous conduct of theory and practice, adding that the Dental Hospital, practice clinics, preclinical laboratories, and classrooms being in the same building is a significant advantage for students.
Prof. Yücel said, “Our clinics, our Dental Hospital, our classrooms, and our preclinical laboratories are located within the same building. Thus, our students can easily bring theory and practice together on the same day. This integrated structure significantly contributes to the quality of education.”
“Preclinical laboratories play a critical role in preparing students for the clinical period”
Prof. Yücel, drawing attention to the importance of progressively developing manual dexterity and practical competence 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.
“In the next 10 years, manual dexterity alone will not be enough”
Prof. Yücel, emphasizing that the technological transformation in dentistry has also changed the education model, stated that future dentists must master digital systems in addition to their traditional clinical skills.
“Dentistry is a rapidly changing professional field,” said Prof. Yücel, adding, “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 the future world of dentistry.”
Students graduate by seeing and experiencing digital systems!
Prof. Yücel stated that digital technologies make diagnosis and treatment processes faster and more effective, and emphasized that students' familiarity with these systems during their education is important for professional adaptation after graduation, adding:
“With the development of digital systems, treatment plans become faster and more accurate. Our students work on digital images during their education, learn to analyze, and make their clinical decisions more consciously. They graduate by seeing and experiencing digital systems.”
“Artificial intelligence should be considered a tool that supports the physician's decision-making processes”
Prof. Yücel stated that artificial intelligence-supported systems have also become one of the important tools of modern dentistry, emphasizing that these technologies should be considered as tools that support the physician's decision-making processes, rather than replacing the physician.
“Today, as in many areas of life, artificial intelligence is increasingly taking its place in dentistry, both in clinical applications and in student education,” said Prof. Yücel, adding, “Especially in early diagnosis, AI-supported systems assist the physician like a second eye. This can prevent some findings that might be overlooked from being missed.”
“We aim for our graduates to be dentists who research, are interested in health technologies, and can contribute to science”
“We care about our students being individuals who not only consume knowledge but also produce it,” said Prof. Yücel, adding, “We organize project-based student congresses, encourage our students to participate in national and international congresses, and support them in taking an active role in scientific studies. We aim for our graduates to be dentists who research, are interested in health technologies, and can contribute to science.”
The opening of DUS quotas is a significant advantage!
Prof. Yücel, also drawing attention to the specialization process after graduation, said, “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 who aim for an academic career.”
“Future dentists need to possess clinical experience, technological knowledge, and human skills simultaneously”
Prof. Ergün Yücel, emphasizing that future dentists need to possess clinical experience, technological knowledge, and human skills simultaneously, concluded his words as follows:
“No matter how much technology develops, humans are at the center of dentistry. Communication, trust, and empathy established with the patient are the most important elements of our human-centered profession. We care about our students graduating 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 perform treatments but also how to communicate correctly with patients.”
