How clinical exposure improves dental students' understanding of oral and maxillofacial surgery: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: To assess dental students' understanding of oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS) practice areas and examine changes in referral preferences across their educational progression in Israel. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 349 dental students from two Israeli universities (46.5% response rate). The primary independent variable was the year of study (pre-clinical vs. clinical years). The main outcome variables included perceptions of OMFS scope and referral preferences for various procedures. Covariates included demographics and prior OMFS exposure. Chi-square tests, linear trend analysis, and mediation analysis were performed. Results: Students in clinical years exhibited a broader understanding of OMFS scope compared to pre-clinical years. Referral preferences to OMFS increased significantly for complex procedures like facial skeletal deformities (46.2% to 61.3%, p = 0.004) and oral cancer (66.2% to 78.9%, p = 0.008). The perception of extractions as the primary OMFS procedure increased from 63.6% in the first year to 77.6% in the sixth year (p = 0.033). Personal and family experiences with OMFS significantly mediated the relationship between year of study and referral tendencies (16.2% of total effect mediated, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Clinical exposure improves understanding of OMFS capabilities, leading to increased referrals for complex procedures. However, several practice areas remain underrecognized, highlighting the need for improved educational interventions.