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An Emulation Model Combining Caries and Periodontitis Risk Assessment With Student Performance Report: An Exploratory Project
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

An Emulation Model Combining Caries and Periodontitis Risk Assessment With Student Performance Report: An Exploratory Project

David Johnsen, Aditi Jain, Carlos Garaicoa-Pazmino, Justine Kolker, Megumi Williamson and Wei Shi
Clinical and experimental dental research, Vol.11(3), e70135
06/2025
DOI: 10.1002/cre2.70135
PMCID: PMC12042111
PMID: 40304296
url
https://doi.org/10.1002/cre2.70135View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Patient risk assessments for caries and periodontitis are hourly activities for dentists. The present study tested a caries and periodontitis risk assessment format based on managing the person using a critical thinking emulation model including levels of patient capacity and disease management. Additionally, we explored factors in student analysis contributing to the designation of higher/lower-risk determinants for caries and periodontitis. Third-year dental students assessed patient risk for recurring disease in periodontics and cariology exercises. The risk assessment thought process becomes the learning outcome, learning guide, and assessment instrument. Students demonstrated the risk assessment analysis with a patient using PowerPoint presentations. Students applied over 95% of procedural steps (e.g., exam, history) with a range of judgmental steps (65%-100%) in risk level, interprofessional practice, disease progression, compliance, among others. Designation of higher and lower-risk determinants for periodontitis risk assessment (n = 38), students identified differences in patient risk based on whether the patient had diabetes or smoked (p = 0.013 to < 0.001). For caries risk assessment (n = 40), students identified differences between lower- and higher-risk patients for patient compliance (p = 0.001), behavior control (p = 0.006), diet control (p < 0.001), and prognosis (p = 0.005). The combined learning guide warrants further exploration in guiding dental students' risk analysis for periodontitis and caries by emulating the thinking process of a master clinician. Future work includes probing analysis with binary conclusions, interventions for high-risk people with recurring disease, and the association of treatment and health.
 Dental Caries - diagnosis Dental Caries - prevention & control Education, Dental - methods Female Humans Male Periodontics - education Periodontitis - diagnosis Risk Assessment - methods Risk Factors Students, Dental

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