UNIVERSITY TEACHING AS THE FOUNDATION FOR QUALITY EDUCATION OF PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF DENTISTRY

Abstract

Teaching involves the act of imparting a specific science or art, with three key elements necessary to mediate knowledge and learning: the teacher, the student, and the subject matter. The aim of this study was to understand the competencies and skills required for teaching in undergraduate dental education. The research method used was an integrative review with a qualitative approach, conducted from January to May 2023, consulting databases such as SCIELO, Google Scholar, the Brazilian Association of Dental Education (ABENO), and the Virtual Health Library (BVS). The final result indicated that the profile of dental educators encompasses several characteristics, including autonomy in their approach to teaching, the absence of a predetermined standard for how to act in the field, a lack of didactic-pedagogical training, a predominance of traditional and technical teaching concepts that prioritize knowledge transmission, and professional quality criteria that are partially restricted to technical skills, with didactic skills being secondary. It was concluded that teaching in dentistry also constitutes a field of practice for the dentist, requiring professionalization similar to other clinical areas of dentistry. There should be more room for discussion on this topic during undergraduate education to encourage future professionals to engage in teaching, thus contributing to dental education.