Dentistry in Saudi Arabia

Dentistry in Saudi Arabia
AlWaleed Abushanan, BDS
UCLA – Section of Pediatric Dentistry
Country Demographics
Demographics
•  The population of Saudi Arabia as of July 2013 is
estimated to be 26.9 million
•  Registered Dentists: 10150
(As of April 2014)
•  Ratio of Population to
Dentists: 1:7690
Dental Education in Saudi Arabia
Dental Schools in Saudi Arabia
•  There are 24 dental schools in Saudi Arabia
•  Of which 18 are public, and 6 are private.
•  7 years in total
•  Year 1, 2: Basic sciences
•  Year 3: Pre-Clinical
•  Year 4, 5, 6: Clinical
•  Year 7:Internship
•  Research project must be completed upon
graduation.
•  1100 graduates per year
Dental School Admission
•  High School Diploma
•  General Capacity Test (Similar to SAT)
•  Assessment Test (Similar to the DAT)
•  Entrance Examination
•  Personal Interview
Practicing Dentistry
•  Bachelors degree in dentistry (BDS)
•  6 Years of dental school + 1 Year (Internship)
•  Total of 7 years
•  Passing the Saudi License Exam
•  Basic Life Support Certificate
Specializing in Saudi Arabia – Saudi Board
•  Bachelors degree in dentistry (BDS)
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Passing the Saudi License Exam
Passing the Saudi Board Exam
Specialty Entrance Exam
Personal Interview
•  Length of Program: 4 Years
•  Saudi Board of Pediatric Dentistry started in 2005
•  Graduates: 39
Specializing in Saudi Arabia – Masters
•  Bachelors degree in dentistry (BDS)
•  6 Years of dental school + 1 Year (Internship)
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Passing the Saudi License Exam
Specialty Entrance Exam
TOEFL
Personal Interview
•  Length of Program: 3 Years
Oral Health Status in Saudi Arabia
Oral Health in Saudi Arabia
•  Prevalence of dental caries in children in Saudi Arabia was •  80% for the primary den99on •  with a mean DMFT score of 5.0 •  70% for children's permanent den99on •  with a mean DMFT score of 3.5
Oral Health in Saudi Arabia
•  Free public oral health care available to all
•  Approximately 675 public and private dental clinics Barriers to Dental Care
•  Lack of oral health educa9on •  Insufficient public health role •  Fear of dental care UCLA Experience
UCLA Experience
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Minimally invasive den9stry Evidenced based den9stry Infant oral care Craniofacial rota9on Pediatric medicine rota9on