Dental Teaching Is Improving

I read the debate article on clinical teaching¹ in the latest issue of JCDA and would like to thank the authors for the useful tips they offer teachers in dental faculties. Their advice is certainly very pertinent. However, the 2 quotes from dental students at the beginning of the article lead readers to believe that the problem with the quality of teaching is a general one and, more importantly, that professors have not improved over the 10-year interval between these 2 quotations. I believe it is important to mention that the educational practices of the majority of professors in our dental faculties are above reproach. To prove my point, here is part of a letter sent to us by a graduating student:

I am one of the French students who did a practicum at Laval University's faculty of dentistry during the 2010 winter term.

Having completed this practicum, I wanted to thank you for the warm welcome I received, not only by the administration, but also by the professors and the students.

I would also like to express my admiration for the efficiency of your administration, the professionalism—as well as the human approach—of your professors, and the respect and friendliness between students and professors.

This tremendous success has inspired me to return to your university.

Dr. André Fournier
Dean
Faculty of dentistry
Laval University
Quebec City, Quebec