1. EVIDENCE-BASED DENTISTRY EDUCATION INDIVIDUAL ANSWERS

2. QUESTION 1 Is evidence based dentistry education efficiently in operation in our country?

3. ANSWERS FEVZAT ÖNDER: No, it is not in operation. RAHİME DEDEOGLU: Interest in evidence-based dentistry has been on raise recently and there have been requests for studies on this area. I think that compulsory insurance has a great impact on it. M. GOZU: Not yet. There are actions only in big cities. There should not be any quality differences between the dental treatments in Istanbul and Diyarbakir any longer.

4. ANSWERS TANKUT TUNCER: Instead of evidence-based dentistry, response-based dentistry or university education is being given in our country. AYTEN EREN: We claim that there is no effective evidence based set up for dentistry education in our country as well as there hasn’t been any goals set in order to clear the way for it. While there is no doubt that university educations which are structured in this sense shall raise the academic level, it will provide more secure health environments both for the dentists who have just begin their carriers and their patients.

5. QUESTION 2 What are the basic difficulties in actualizing evidence based dentistry education?

6. ANSWERS FEVZAT ÖNDER: Lack of reading-writing culture. RAHİME DEDEOGLU: The biggest difficulty is to create necessary time and interest in the clinics. If the dentist has the habit to collect archive records then it won’t be difficult at all however I am aware that we are not that good at archive records. Archive records are not popular actually because of the possibility of having troubles during financial audits. M.GOZU: Apart from 3 or 4 big cities, equipped clinics have been opened by individual efforts however they have problems in accessing materials in a short time and hearing about current treatments.

7. ANSWERS TANKUT TUNCER: The attitudes of the units who should be supplying the evidence-based dentistry education directly. This education is a phase that must be given in the universities. AYTEN EREN: Out of the reason that there is no compulsive legislation about the education of the liberal dentists after their graduation, the attendance rate to the dental congresses comes about to be between 5 and 10 %. Individual efforts won’t go beyond this rate unless this area won’t be arranged through legislation. In addition financial difficulties of the chambers, scientific activities being done with product oriented concerns and legislation problems are existing barriers.

8. QUESTION 3 What are the best vehicles for evidence-based dentistry education?

9. ANSWERS FEVZAT ÖNDER: Internet plus TDA congresses. RAHİME DEDEOGLU: The best education is the one which starts face to face and continues incrementally (maybe online). Substantial examples and an education that points survivors thanks to this method would be fruitful. M.GOZU: Workshops, congresses and courses. Though internet is the first vehicle which comes to our minds, an actively practicing dentist can not be on the computer for long hours. There are exchange of ideas in the congresses. There occurs better learning via visual and audial education.

10. ANSWERS TANKUT TUNCER: All kind of vehicles of information technologies, certificated courses, short-term post-graduate programs, congresses and serious professional unions. AYTEN EREN: Electronical environment can be the best source which is easy to access. In order to achieve this, faculties and TDA can organize central studies jointly with chambers. Obligation to collect credits and incentive programs can be help raising the attendance rate.

11. QUESTION 4 How can TDA promote evidence-based dentistry education?

12. ANSWERS FEVZAT ÖNDER: Buying globally produced DVDs in dental field and publishing or sending them to the members after translating them into Turkish. RAHİME DEDEOGLU: By raising educators and then sending them to the regions as it has done in Public Oral and Dental Health. The success of this education can be evaluated by the feedbacks obtained. M. GOZU: Dental Chambers should insure a standardization and equal education quality in Turkey.

13. ANSWERS TANKUT TUNCER: Competence educations which offers valid university degrees and certificates (foreign universities included) can be organized. AYTEN EREN: TDA may form a course of action through preparing central curriculum of this education with an academic council consisted of universities. Besides, TDA can help to form clinical counseling on necessary issues.

14. QUESTION 5 How can evidence-based dentistry promoted in congresses (eg: in TDA Congresses) ?

15. ANSWERS FEVZAT ÖNDER: TDA congresses perform what should be done. RAHİME DEDEOGLU: Sessions that deal only with this issue can be organized in the congress. A questionnaire can be applied to dentists about their preferences on what should be done in evidence-based dentistry education. Getting this education can be made advantageous so that it becomes widespread. For example; a dentist who attended one session can register for the next session for a more affordable price or own the right to become a educator earlier than the others.

16. ANSWERS M.GOZU: Point scoring system should be established and rule of collecting particular number of points should become compulsory as it is done Europe. TANKUT TUNCER: I believe that it would be difficult to aim evidence-based dentistry education as time is limited. AYTEN EREN: Studies and subjects about evidence-based dentistry shared and discussed in TDA congresses can be evaluated by a supreme board. In addition, in these congresses with international feature, global developments can be shared.