The Journal of the American College of Dentists
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Reflection is thinking about practice, based on traces of recalled facts or data, with a view toward better understanding it. Reflection is prompted by discrepancies between what we observe and what we expect and commonly takes the forms of comparing personal experiences, reviewing events mentally, looking for trends in data, building new prototypes, and managing impressions. ⋯ The essence of reflection is finding a meaningful way to make tacit knowledge available in explicit form. Often this involves story telling, with its attendant features of plot, emotion, dramatic tension, and the success of the hero.
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A definition and introduction is provided for evidence-based dentistry and dental practice. The impact of this approach to providing care is traced for quality of care and professionalism. Policy implications are drawn and the impact of evidence-based dentistry for dental education and research are discussed.
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African-American dental students at the University of Michigan are engaged in identifying, guiding, and preparing promising predental students for a career in dentistry. Collaborating with the Student National Dental Association (SNDA), the Predental Association at the school, and with the help of faculty members and the administration, students have developed an Impressions Day and participate in a Research Day, a golf outing, an Elementary School Outreach program, a Dental Initiatives activity, the Scholars Program for Dental Leadership, and participation in the school's Mentor Program. All of these activities engage current students in helping those at various stages in the predental education pipeline learn about, evaluate their potential for, and prepare for careers in dentistry.
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The field of dental ethics has matured to the point where it is worthwhile to summarize it. An overview is presented of the methods commonly used to present ethics in dental schools. ⋯ Each of these approaches has advantages, and each is incomplete. The general problem of converting ethical knowledge to moral conduct will be presented in a subsequent essay.