University of Hong Kong empowers future dentists

Since its foundation in 1982, the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has become an internationally renowned institution for dental education. The faculty has been repeatedly ranked among the top dental schools in the world, for example in the QS World University Rankings. The key to its success is no secret: a strong emphasis on high-calibre dental research and a problem-based learning curriculum. The latter also forms the foundation for the six-year undergraduate programme at HKU, leading to a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree.

In problem-based learning (PBL), the students are presented with real-life clinical problems, which they learn to solve in interactive groups. Through PBL, the students are encouraged to face clinical challenges and apply new technologies with an open mind – which is very much necessary in the ever-evolving world of dentistry. The PBL approach is reinforced by practical training, both in preclinical and clinical setting. Moreover, the students gather interprofessional experience for example by training alongside dental hygienists and dental surgery assistants.

“Our students get exposed to the clinical environment very early, as they start training in the simulation laboratory from the second year onwards. Although they start their work with very simple things, they already get to experience the clinical environment and handle real instruments first hand,” tells Dr Gary S.P. Cheung, BDS, MDS, PhD, who has overseen the undergraduate dental studies at the HKU for nearly a decade.

The simulation laboratory was equipped with Planmeca simulation units in 2017.

Incorporating digital tools in preclinical studies

In 2017, the simulation laboratory was equipped with 82 Planmeca simulation units, two of which are designated for teaching purposes. Earlier this year, the simulation laboratory was expanded further with 20 Planmeca Compact™ iSim units. The facilities also encompass eight lead-lined Planmeca ProX™ intraoral X-ray simulation cabinets, allowing students to practise intraoral imaging techniques safely, as well as one Planmeca ProScanner® imaging plate scanner.

Planmeca’s simulation laboratory allows HKU students to utilise digital dental equipment from the very start of their preclinical studies. In addition to being able to practise clinical procedures with phantom heads, students also learn to view and process the intraoral X-ray images they have captured with the intraoral imaging simulation cabinets. These images are immediately available in Planmeca Romexis® software on the student’s workstation.

“I can see that our students like the Planmeca equipment and especially the AV connection of the simulation units. The clinic’s layout, which we planned together with Planmeca, also allows us to teach our students all at the same time or separately, and the students really appreciate that they always have the same working setup either way,” Dr Cheung tells.

As Clinical Professor, Dr Cheung was actively involved in equipping the new simulation laboratory.

“We wanted a simulation environment that is future-proof and able to integrate our teaching technology. The Planmeca simulation laboratory has proven to do just that. The beauty of Planmeca is that the simulation unit with a phantom head is exactly the same as the clinical units we use in the university hospital, which makes the transition from simulation to actual clinical work easier,” Dr Cheung explains.

“Another thing that really impressed us about Planmeca was the communication. We could ask all kinds of questions about the configuration and placement of the devices, and we were involved throughout the project and in the clinical layout planning,” Dr Cheung continues.

Indeed, Planmeca assembles a dedicated team for each university project, which supports the dental school in every stage of the project from vision to equipment deliveries and maintenance. With extensive experience from a variety of projects, the team can offer advice on most matters, including optimising floor space, efficient organisation of supplies, necessary clinic utilities, infection control routines, material and patient flows, and adapting the space to different educational needs.

The project team also includes the local Planmeca distributor. In the case of HKU Faculty of Dentistry, it was Planmeca’s local distributor in Hong Kong, Tesco Dental, which was responsible for the equipment delivery and has been offering user support during and after the installation. The faculty staff has been very impressed with their services.

“Whenever we need something done or need some support, you can count on it to happen. Even within 24 hours!” Dr Cheung praises.

The layout plan of the simulation laboratory extension with 20 Planmeca Compact™ iSim units.

Educating active members of society

Every year, the HKU Faculty of Dentistry receives thousands of applications for the BDS programme, mainly from local residents. Applicants are ranked based on their performance in secondary education examinations, needing to exceed a certain threshold to proceed to the interview stage. Ultimately, 90 applicants are accepted into the BDS programme.

The undergraduate studies at HKU are subsidised by the Health Bureau of Hong Kong, which has helped keep tuitions on an affordable level and thus contributed to the popularity of dental studies. However, the primary objective for public financing is to ensure there are enough dentists in Hong Kong to meet the growing demand for dental services.

Even during their studies, dentistry students are encouraged to pay back to the community, for example by educating the local community on the importance of oral care. Later, during the clinical stage of their training, the students contribute to society by providing affordable dental care to locals. Typically, by the time students graduate from the HKU Faculty of Dentistry, they have treated around 40 to 60 patients.

However, it is not only clinical competencies which are being emphasised in the dentistry training at HKU. As outlined in the curriculum, the undergraduates are to become global thinkers and future leaders. Throughout their studies, they are encouraged to become active members of the surrounding society and on a global scale.

Consequently, dentistry students at HKU are required to participate in an international capstone programme, during which they must spend four to six weeks abroad. While the faculty can support the students in making the initial connections or providing the necessary documentation for the exchange, they are mostly encouraged to actively search and find a suitable institution for the training by themselves.

“We also encourage our students to engage in personal enrichment studies for three months during the summer between the second and third year of studies. These studies can be anything they think might make them a better person,“ Dr Cheung tells.

The students are also encouraged to actively participate in the regulatory work of Dental Council of Hong Kong and join professional societies and other public services in the region.

Research environment amplified by university rankings

Contrary to what one might think, the university rankings have had little effect on the number of BDS applicants. Instead, the increased international attention generated by the rankings has made the post-graduate training and specialist training more appealing to international applicants.

For research at the HKU Faculty of Dentistry, the university rankings have sparked a positive cycle. On one hand, the prominent position in the rankings is partly due to the university’s investments in clinical and non-clinical research. On the other hand, the heightened attention caused by the rankings has contributed to an environment that fosters research.

“Our faculty staff has quite a high publication rate per capita and we have dedicated professors to ensure our involvement in high-calibre research, too. Our researchers also train PhD students and collaborate a lot, which enhances the visibility of our research and helps get more citations, which in turn contributes to our rankings,” Dr Cheung tells.

As Clinical Professor, Dr Cheung was responsible for equipping the new simulation laboratory.

Keeping pace with change using future-proof technology

Dr Cheung has spent most of his career – an impressive 35 years – at the University of Hong Kong. An HKU alumnus himself, his dentistry class was, in fact, the first to ever graduate from HKU. Having been engaged with the undergraduate programme for a decade, he is retiring from his role as Clinical Professor and assuming a new position in the Shenzhen Hospital of the University of Hong Kong, which is run by the HKU Faculty of Medicine.

Over the past years, he has witnessed the academia struggle with keeping up with the fast technological change in dentistry more often than not. According to Dr Cheung, the biggest challenge for dental education today is indeed the disparity between the necessary investments in new technologies and the available resources to fund these investments. This challenge affects dental education globally, as dental schools are not always financially equipped to remain at the forefront of the latest technological developments.

“Thirty years ago, when you wanted to explore the most modern equipment, you could visit any dental school in town rather than a dental practice. Today it is the other way around. Worldwide, it is usually dental practices that are using the latest digital tools rather than universities,” Dr Cheung reflects.

“Unfortunately, at most universities, it is not possible to turn everything digital at once. Not all dental schools possess the necessary resources or the possibility to build up a whole new hospital. It takes time to gradually convert the previous devices and teaching methods to digital dentistry.”

These circumstances were also the reason why HKU Faculty of Dentistry was primarily looking for a future-proof solution for their new simulation laboratory. Planmeca’s platform-based solutions provided an ideal solution for this challenge with their excellent upgradability: all products can be easily upgraded with new features and functionalities as they become available, for example with software updates and retrofits.

Moreover, new features are regularly introduced to Romexis software, ensuring users have access to the latest innovations in dentistry for years to come. Therefore, the university can rest assured their students will benefit from the new AI-based features of Romexis once they become available.

“When it comes to technology and the digital aspect of it, in my opinion, there is a slight edge for Planmeca,” Dr Cheung concludes.

Text: Mari Suominen

Images: Courtesy of University of Hong Kong