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Advancing dental education

Guest Editors

Mariana Minatel Braga, PhD, University of São Paulo, Brazil
Tong Wah Lim, BDS, MProsRCS, AM, MClinDent in Prosthodontics, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Galvin Sim Siang Lin, DDS, MScD, MMedEd, PhD, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia

BMC Oral Health has published this Collection on Advancing dental education, which explores various aspects of dental education evolution to meet healthcare demands. This Collection covers topics from curriculum design to virtual learning tools, to laser applications in dentistry, as well as curriculum design, interdisciplinary approaches, technology integration, assessment methods, and global perspectives in dental education. Its aim is to enhance academic experiences and patient care quality.



New Content ItemThis Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

Meet the Guest Editors

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Mariana Minatel Braga, PhD, University of São Paulo, Brazil

Dr Mariana Minatel Braga studied to be a specialist and earned a PhD in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of São Paulo, São Paulo Brazil. She acted as Visiting Researcher at the Centre for Health Economic and Policy Analysis (CHEPA), McMaster University, Canada. She has dedicated her research to investigating the impact of dental interventions and studying manners to educate undergraduate students and dentists to incorporate scientific evidence produced in health services, managing the potential gaps the knowledge translation may offer. Dr Braga is the founder/co-founder of initiatives in Cardec-Trials, EviDent e IuSTC, and one of the coordinators of the Centre for Evidence-Based decision-making and economic evaluations (EvipOralHealth—FOUSP).
 

Tong Wah Lim, BDS, MProsRCS, AM,  MClinDent in Prosthodontics, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Dr Tong Wah Lim earned his dentistry degree from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Malaya and was a MoHE scholar during his full-time specialist training in Prosthodontics at the Dental Institute at Guy's Hospital, King's College London. In 2012, he passed the Membership in Prosthodontics Examination with the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. Subsequently, he obtained a Fellowship in Advanced Periodontology and Implantology from the University of Genova, Italy, in 2016. In 2019, Dr Lim received the IDCMR scholarship for a Faculty Exchange Programme in Prosthodontics at Mahidol University, Thailand. Currently, Dr Lim serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Restorative Dental Sciences at the Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong. He has published over 40 articles in peer-reviewed journals and has been awarded 13 research grants as a principal and co-investigator. Furthermore, Dr Lim has received over 40 awards for his contributions to research, teaching and learning, and invention, innovation, and design. His research interests include the Dahl concept, denture biofilm, and dental education.
 

Galvin Sim Siang Lin, DDS, MScD, MMedEd, PhD, International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia

Dr Galvin Sim Siang Lin graduated from the Universiti Sains Malaysia, with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (Dean’s list) in 2019, a Master of Science (Dentistry) in 2020, and a Doctor of Philosophy in 2023. In addition, he graduated with a second master’s degree, Master of Medical Education with distinction, from the University of Malaya. His field of interest includes conservative dentistry, endodontics, dental biomaterials, and dental education (curriculum and pedagogy). At the age of 28, he received 18 national and international research awards, and authored over 50 research articles in Web of Science and Scopus-indexed journals. Currently, Dr Galvin serves as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Restorative Dentistry, Kulliyyah of Dentistry, International Islamic University Malaysia. He is actively engaged in supervising both undergraduate and postgraduate students, playing a key role in designing and revising dental curricula and implementing innovative pedagogical strategies to enhance active learning. 

About the Collection

BMC Oral Health has published this Collection on Advancing dental education. 

This Collection covers topics from curriculum design to virtual learning tools, to laser applications in dentistry, as well as curriculum design, interdisciplinary approaches, technology integration, assessment methods, and global perspectives in dental education.

This Collection supports research exploring advancements in dental education, including but not limited to: 

  • Innovations in dental curriculum design: Explore new methods and strategies to enhance dental education curriculum.
  • Interdisciplinary approaches: Investigate integrating interdisciplinary perspectives, fostering collaboration among healthcare disciplines.
  • Technology integration and virtual learning: Examine the impact of technology, including virtual simulations, on dental education.
  • Assessment and evaluation: Discuss effective methods for assessing and evaluating dental education programs.
  • Global perspectives: Share experiences from diverse contexts, addressing challenges and solutions in global dental education.
  • Student-centric approaches: Focus on student engagement, well-being, and the development of skills essential for their future dental practice.
  • Ethical considerations: Exploring best practices, emphasizing the importance of ethical guidelines, professionalism, and integrity in shaping the future of dental professionals.


This Collection is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, and encourages submissions showcasing the role of dental education in promoting oral health and overall well-being. 
 

Image credit: LuckyStep / stock.adobe.com

  1. There is evidence from qualitative and quantitative studies of the presence of weight stigma in the dental setting from the patient perspective. However, the perspectives of various members of the dental team ...

    Authors: Zanab Malik, Kate A. McBride, Kathryn Williams, Deborah Cockrell and Clare E. Collins
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2025 25:493
    Content type: Research Published on:

  2. The use of Cone-Beam-Computed-Tomography (CBCT) is rapidly increasing in dentistry. This study aimed to evaluate CBCT use among dentists across various fields and how it is affected by various measures.

    Authors: Ragda Abdalla-Aslan, Galit Almoznino, Liad Moskovich, Doron J. Aframian and Chen Nadler
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2025 25:291
    Content type: Research Published on:

  3. Safe dental treatments that prevent nosocomial and cross-infections are essential for patients and dental workers. However, dental students sometimes pay inadequate attention to infection control, especially i...

    Authors: Ayaka Ueda, Yuki Shinoda-Ito, Kazu Takeuchi-Hatanaka, Takashi Ito, Shintaro Ono, Kimito Hirai, Kazuhiro Omori, Tadashi Yamamoto and Shogo Takashiba
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2025 25:199
    Content type: Research Published on:

  4. Narrative medicine (NM), a model for medical humanism, has become an effective educational tool to cultivate medical students’ empathy. However, the role of NM in dental education still lacks experimental evid...

    Authors: Chufang Liao, Ting Zhong, Mengxue Xu, Yingzhi zhan and Xiangning Liu
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2025 25:193
    Content type: Research Published on:

  6. Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is estimated to affect more than 800 million people worldwide. The clinical management of MIH can be challenging. For dentists, to provide effective and high-quality dent...

    Authors: Özbey İpek Hilal and Bolaca Arif
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2025 25:14
    Content type: Research Published on:

  7. A dental hygienist is an indispensable auxiliary staff in stomatology who assists people in achieving an optimum level of oral health. Despite advancements in dental medical services, our country has not yet e...

    Authors: Xiaochen Jiang, Zhiguo Ding, Yanlei Su, Fei Wang, Weifeng Wang, Ziyang Wang, Xueling Qiu, Chenxi Sun, Fan Sun, Lu Tang and Chongjian Fu
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:1563
    Content type: Research Published on:

  8. A comprehensive understanding of the root form and canal anatomy is essential for successful endodontic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the root canal anatomy of mandibular premolars in the Pakistani p...

    Authors: Hamza Arshad, Fatima Zahra, Nighat Naved, Taimur Khalid, Azhar Iqbal, Mohmed Isaqali Karobari, Irfan Maqbool and Fahad Umer
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:1414
    Content type: Research Published on:

  9. This study examined the impact of web-based education on enhancing mothers’ awareness of oral health care for children aged 9 and 12 years. It focused on the crucial role of mothers in educating about oral hea...

    Authors: Kasra Kashani, Arash Shahravan and Afshin Sarafinejad
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:1296
    Content type: Research Published on:

  10. To assess the current status of digital technology (DT) implementation in prosthodontics post-graduate (PG) programs in Saudi Arabian dental institutions.

    Authors: Sarah Mohammed Alnafaiy, Haya Alyousef, Renad Aljabr, Abrar Tounsi, Reem Almutairi and Refal Saad Albaijan
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:1136
    Content type: Research Published on:

  11. In the realm of restorative dentistry, the integration of virtual reality haptic simulation (VRHS) for learning operative skills has garnered varied perceptions among dental students. Therefore, the aim of thi...

    Authors: Alaa Daud, Manal Matoug-Elwerfelli, Amina Khalid and Kamran Ali
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:988
    Content type: Research Published on:

  12. Global Health Community Service-Learning (GHCSL) can have a profound professional and personal impact on learners. This pedagogy provides understanding of unfamiliar environments and challenges learners to ste...

    Authors: Abbas Jessani, Alexia Athanasakos and Samantha Kachwinya
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:799
    Content type: Research Published on:

  13. Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential to foster collaboration among healthcare professionals for holistic patient care. However, Malaysian dental education remains discipline-centric, hindering multid...

    Authors: Galvin Sim Siang Lin, Yook Shiang Ng, Hasnah Hashim, Chan Choong Foong, Noor Azlin Yahya, Mohd Haikal Muhamad Halil and Mas Suryalis Ahmad
    Citation: BMC Oral Health 2024 24:762
    Content type: Research Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select Advancing dental education from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.