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Dental Student Research Mariela Padilla, DDS, M.Ed
GUEST EDITOR Mariela Padilla, DDS, M.Ed, is the director of Online Programs and Telehealth and an associate professor of clinical dentistry at the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC. Conflict of Interest Disclosure: None reported.
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very year, the Journal of the California Dental Association sets aside an issue for dental students, and their mentors, to share their academic findings. It has been a great pleasure to support those who are publishing in this issue and to see firsthand the role of mentors in shaping the next generation of dental practitioners. A successful professional can be recognized by different achievements or capacities — such as diagnostic accuracy, skillful procedure execution, financial sustainability and public recognition — but also as someone who maintains an appropriate balance between technical competencies and essential social skills. These “soft” skills prioritize communication, emphasizing respect, professionalism, ethics and an understanding of diversity. Soft skills include personal values and interpersonal skills, and some specific examples are communication, leadership, critical thinking and problem-solving.1 The ability to communicate assertively and effectively is one of the most important attributes in the dental profession. Studies have demonstrated that effective providerpatient communication is an asset in getting the required information and developing rapport.2 Furthermore, good communication skills increase dental patients’ satisfaction and treatment outcomes.3 Communication skills in the health care environment are to be continuously cultivated and nurtured, and clinicians should always look for opportunities to do so by identifying and
taking advantage of opportunities to educate and promote oral health. Leadership skills are key as the discipline moves into the interprofessional model of care, where each discipline contributes to understanding the needs of a patient in a more comprehensive fashion.4 Critical thinking in dentistry may relate to exploring different perspectives that a practitioner must consider, facilitating the resolution of complex problems and fostering professional behaviors.5 To improve these skills, clinicians might benefit from discussions with colleagues, attending professional meetings and reading current literature.6 Evolutions in science, new understanding of diseases and technological innovations have changed the professional practice of dentistry. Thirty years ago, having an electrical dental amalgamator was considered an innovation. Guidelines and protocols are important, but best practices have to be adapted, and clinicians must find ways to stay current in this field of continuous evolution. Thus, other soft skills that need to be cultivated include adaptability and flexibility in an ethical and responsible environment. The only way to adapt to changes is to recognize them, and if possible, the clinician should look to anticipate changes by identifying developments in the environment. When the context changes, a flexible response to the new demands is desirable, and the clinician will benefit from the ability to adjust to JANUARY 2 0 2 2
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