Changes in role perceptions by first-year dental students.

Abstract

Dental education combines the learning of technical skills with the professional role of health care provider. The investigation compared first-year dental students perception of themselves, dental practitioners, dental school upper-class students, and patients. The study indicated that first-year students are more likely to identify with upper-class students than with dental practitioners. They also tended to see themselves as clearly different from dental patients. It is suggested that dental educators should recognize this fact in order to avoid the depersonalization of dental care delivery.