In dentistry, manual dexterity alone is no longer enough!

Pointing out that many innovations, from artificial intelligence-supported diagnostic systems to digital treatment planning, are shaping the future of the profession, Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Ergün Yücel said, "Dentistry is a very rapidly changing profession. When we look 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 is becoming much more important. We are preparing our students not only for today's but also for tomorrow's dentistry world. Artificial intelligence does not replace the physician, it becomes a second pair of eyes for the physician..."

Dean of Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry Prof. Ergün Yücel drew attention to how future dentists should be trained today. 

"Manual dexterity alone is no longer enough"

Stating that dentistry will reach a much different point in the coming years than it is today, Prof. Ergün Yücel said that technological developments are changing the nature of the profession.

Yücel said, "Dentistry is a very rapidly changing profession. When we look 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 is becoming much more important. We are preparing our students not only for today's but also for tomorrow's dentistry world."

 "We are training physicians who question, not memorize information"

Emphasizing that despite the importance of technology, humanity lies at the core of medicine, Prof. Ergün Yücel said, "Our basic approach is to train students who can follow the literature, monitor scientific developments, prepare projects, and are open to continuous learning. In addition, our most important goal is to train physicians who can understand their patients, make correct decisions, think, question, and empathize, no matter how much technology develops."

"An education approach that does not produce projects remains incomplete"

Stating that scientific production at Üsküdar University begins in student years, Prof. Yücel said, "We emphasize that our students should be individuals who produce knowledge, not just consume it. Therefore, the concept of a project is extremely important in our faculty. 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 to train a graduating student not just as someone who treats patients in the clinic, but also as a dentist who can develop new ideas, research, engage with health technologies, and contribute to science."

"Artificial intelligence does not replace the physician, it becomes a second pair of eyes for the physician"

Stating that the rise of artificial intelligence in healthcare is also felt very prominently in dentistry, Prof. Ergün Yücel said, "Today, as in many areas of life, artificial intelligence is increasingly taking its place in dentistry, both in clinical practices and in student education. Especially in early diagnosis, artificial intelligence-supported systems assist the physician like a second pair of eyes. Thus, some findings that might be overlooked can be prevented from being missed."

"Digital systems provide more accurate treatment planning"

Stating that digital technologies provide great convenience not only in diagnosis but also in treatment planning, 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 analyze, and make their clinical decisions more consciously. They graduate by seeing and experiencing digital systems."

"Our experienced academic staff provides our students with real clinical experience"

Stating that the strong academic staff of Üsküdar University Faculty of Dentistry provides a significant advantage, Prof. Yücel said, "Thanks to our experienced academicians in their fields, our students not only receive theoretical knowledge but also learn their profession through real patient experience."

"All educational areas are within the same building"

Stating that the physical infrastructure of the faculty also increases the quality of education, Prof. Ergün Yücel said, "Our clinics, dental hospital, classrooms, and preclinical laboratories are located within the same building. Thus, our students can easily combine theory and practice within the same day. This integrated structure makes a significant contribution to the quality of education."

"We are an easily accessible faculty in the center of Istanbul"

Stating that the central location also offers a significant advantage to students, Prof. Yücel said, "Studying on an easily accessible campus in a big city like Istanbul creates a serious advantage for students."

"We also support our students in DUS preparation"

Stating that they also support the preparation process for the Dentistry Specialty Examination (DUS), Prof. Yücel said, "The opening of DUS quotas in our faculty is a significant advantage. In addition, we support our students' preparation processes for the specialty examination. We offer a strong infrastructure to our students who aim for an academic career."

"Thanks to the SGK agreement, our students see a large number of cases"

Stating that Üsküdar University Dental Hospital's SGK agreement provides students with significant clinical experience, Prof. Yücel said, "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. The more cases they see before graduation, the stronger they start their profession."

"Even if technology develops, humanity is at the core of dentistry"

Emphasizing that all technological developments cannot overshadow the human factor, Prof. Ergün Yücel concluded his words as follows:

"Despite all technological developments, communication, trust, and empathy established with the patient are the most important concepts of our human-oriented profession, and we particularly emphasize these points in education and training students who have internalized human values. Our students learn not only to perform treatment but also to communicate correctly with the patient."