Competency-based education in a clinical course in conservative dentistry.

The conceptual difference between a competency-based education and an education based upon a conventional dental curriculum is, perhaps, the starting point for the development of new curricula. The two systems are not, in themselves, exclusive. There is common ground to be found, and the concept of combining instruction with competency-based learning experiences is emerging in recent publications. This paper describes a competency-based approach applied to a clinical course in conservative dentistry. The learning outcomes of the fourth-year dental students in the new course were assessed using methods that included continuous clinical assessments, student presentations and peer-group reflective evaluations, patient management reviews, a clinical progress examination, the range and amount of work completed, and a written examination and viva voce. Different weightings were given to various elements of the assessment. A formal student assessment of the course rated it as being satisfactory.