Background and aims. This study was undertaken to evaluate efficiency of patient files in the Periodontics and Oral Medicine Departments to determine the quality of the therapeutic services offered.

 Materials and methods. The dental files of patients referring to the above-mentioned departments at Tehran Faculty of Dentistry were evaluated. There were 600 and 4000 files in the Periodontics and Oral Medicine Departments, respectively. Of the 4000 files in the Oral Medicine Department 400 files were randomly selected by a masked dental student. Four checklists were used for data collection, which were specific for each department, consisting of the topics covered in the files. Descriptive statistical tests were used for data analysis using SPSS software.

 Results. The files in the Department of Oral Medicine had the highest mean of filled items, which is attributed to the limited number of items in the files. In the Oral Medicine Department no relation was found between student gender and the quality of files however, the year of entry into the university was significantly related to the quality of the files. There was a significant relationship between gender and the year of entry into the university on one hand and the quality of files on the other. In the Periodontics Department half of the follow cases had been signed and confirmed by the instructors.

 Conclusions. The results showed patient files are not sufficiently efficacious in the departments under study and the academic staff need to revise educational methods and remove unnecessary items from the curricula.

 Source: Journal of Periodentology & Implant Dentistry

 Full Text