42394 - Internship 2

Learning outcomes

Internship I represents the student’s first exposure to the clinical environment and aims primarily to facilitate their gradual and conscious integration into the operational reality of a dental healthcare setting. During this initial phase, the student begins to become familiar with the outpatient context, the roles of the dental team, organizational workflows, and foundational practical concepts in oral hygiene.

The main contents include:

• Guided observation of clinical activities within the University Dental Clinic departments, with particular focus on the role of the dental hygienist within the care team;

• Understanding of the dental clinical environment, including medical devices, hygiene protocols, safety standards (PPE, disinfection and sterilization procedures, waste management);

• Approach to the patient: welcoming techniques, empathetic communication, listening, and observation, also in relation to the patient’s social and cultural background;

• Filling in the dental record: acquisition of demographic and health history data, with an introduction to the importance of accurate and complete anamnesis;

• Basic notions of oral anatomy, oral health and disease, introduction to clinical indices (PI, GI, PSR), dental plaque, and motivation for personal oral hygiene;

• Learning correct ergonomic postures, dental chair functionalities, and proper chairside assistance techniques;

• Practical exercises on anatomical models (simulators and mannequins), aimed at developing basic manual skills and the use of fundamental professional tools (mirror, probe, explorer);

• Introduction to the professional role of the dental hygienist, including responsibilities, ethics, code of conduct, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The goal is to provide students with the theoretical and practical foundation to begin actively, albeit under supervision, participating in clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on developing critical observation skills, relational attitudes, and progressive integration into the dental care team.

Course contents

In the second year, the clinical internship represents a crucial phase of consolidation and development of previously acquired skills, during which the student begins to fully engage in the patient relationship and daily clinical practice. At this stage, the student takes on a more active role within the healthcare setting, reinforcing their integration into the dental team.

The internship requires students to apply, in a practical context, the theoretical and technical knowledge acquired during the first year. This includes both relational skills—such as patient reception, effective communication, and management of emotional responses and anxiety—and core clinical competencies. The student will become familiar with the dental work environment, learning how to properly manage the dental chair and its functions, adopt correct ergonomic positioning, and use both manual and rotary instruments in accordance with established clinical protocols.

Particular attention is given to the learning of preventive techniques, including topical fluoride applications, fissure sealants, oral hygiene instructions and motivation, as well as minimally invasive preventive procedures. Students will also have the opportunity to observe and participate in the clinical workflow, including chair preparation, material management, and the early stages of planning individualized preventive care interventions.

The internship takes place under the supervision of experienced clinical tutors and is designed to progressively increase the student’s level of operational autonomy and clinical decision-making, always aligned with the level of training achieved. The ultimate goal is to lay the foundation for full integration into the healthcare team, fostering the development of the technical, communicative, and organizational competencies required for future professional practice.

Readings/Bibliography

1. Sammarco G. Testo di Cariologia clinica. Quintessenza pub.;
2. Cortesi Ardizzone e Abbinante. Igienista Orale - Teoria e pratica professionale. EDRA;
3. Farronato. Odontostomatologia per l'igienista dentale. Basi anatomo-cliniche e protocolli operativi. Piccin.
4. Ramamurthy P, Rath A, Sidhu P, Fernandes B, Nettem S, Fee PA, Zaror C, Walsh T. Sealants for preventing caries in primary teeth.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Feb 11;2(2):CD012981.
5. Borges AB, Caneppele TM, Masterson D, Maia LC. Is an effective esthetic treatment for enamel development defects and lesions? A systematic review.J Dent. 2017 Jan;56:11-18.

Teaching methods

The second-year internship takes place primarily within the Dental Hygiene Department of the University Dental Clinic, where students are actively involved in clinical practice with real patients under the supervision of experienced professional tutors. The activities are designed to allow students to apply, in an integrated and progressive manner, the theoretical knowledge acquired throughout the academic year, particularly in the areas of pharmacology, infectious diseases, internal medicine, oral pathology, radiology, periodontology, restorative dentistry, endodontics, nutrition, orthodontics and pediatric dentistry, as well as preventive and community dentistry. Clinical experiences—further enriched by rotations in other clinical departments of the Dental Clinic—are supported by practical exercises on anatomical models and simulators. These are aimed at developing manual skills, operational precision, and familiarity with materials, preventive techniques, and professional oral hygiene procedures. Students take part in simulations, guided observations, clinical briefings, and feedback sessions with tutors, all of which are essential for reinforcing learning and fostering critical thinking and autonomy. In addition, students participate in seminars and interdisciplinary workshops designed to promote a comprehensive understanding of patient care and to enhance communication and relational skills. The didactic approach is structured to be progressive and well-guided, with the ultimate goal of leading students toward greater clinical autonomy, professional responsibility, and awareness of their role within the dental healthcare team.

Assessment methods

The assessment of student learning in the second-year internship is structured into two main components: formative assessment and summative (certificative) assessment, both aimed at monitoring and documenting the progressive acquisition of the student’s technical-professional, interpersonal, and organizational competencies.

Formative assessment is conducted continuously throughout the internship year and includes:

• Direct observation by the clinical tutor of the student’s practical performance on real patients;

• Regular feedback meetings for discussion and reflection on the clinical experience and areas for improvement;

• Evaluation forms completed by tutors, documenting progress in the development of professional skills;

• Verification of active participation in clinical and practical training activities;

• Production of individual assignments, such as short clinical reports or guided reflections based on cases observed or treated.

Particular emphasis is placed on the student’s ability to:

• Collect a complete medical and dental history and accurately complete the patient’s clinical record;

• Detect periodontal indices (e.g., PI, GI, PSR) and interpret their clinical relevance;

• Evaluate the patient’s general and oral health conditions, also in relation to systemic diseases or ongoing pharmacological treatments;

• Apply standard clinical protocols in the field of professional oral hygiene (e.g., sealants, topical fluoride applications, oral hygiene instruction and motivation);

• Correctly use the dental chair and both manual and rotary instruments, maintaining proper ergonomic posture;

• Communicate and interact effectively and professionally with patients and other members of the dental team.

Summative Assessment

At the end of the academic year, the student undergoes a summative assessment, which synthesizes the entire training pathway and aims to verify:

• The level of autonomy achieved in performing preventive and hygiene-related activities;

• The ability to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical skills in real clinical situations;

• The awareness of one’s professional role within the dental care team.

The final assessment includes individual interviews based on clinical cases observed or managed, as well as discussions of written assignments or personalized preventive care protocols.

The Examination Board is chaired by the Degree Program Coordinator and the Head of Clinical Training, and includes clinical tutors and at least one faculty member. Additional academic staff may be involved when necessary.

The final grade is expressed on a scale of 30 points. The following outcomes may also be recorded:

• "Withdrawn", in cases where the internship is interrupted for personal, health-related, or pregnancy-related reasons;

• "Failed", if the student does not meet the minimum learning objectives for the year.

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The second-year internship is supported by a variety of didactic tools designed to enhance and complement clinical experience, promoting progressive, critical, and reflective learning.

Key support tools include:

• Hands-on training on anatomical models, simulators, and mannequins, aimed at developing manual skills and applying basic operational techniques in a controlled environment;

• Guided clinical observations, with structured briefing and debriefing sessions to discuss observed cases and link them to theoretical concepts;

• Thematic seminars and interdisciplinary sessions, focused on topics covered during the year’s coursework (e.g., periodontology, oral pathology, radiology, preventive dentistry, etc.);

• Production of clinical reports and reflective writing, encouraging analysis, synthesis, and self-assessment skills;

• Multimedia and digital resources, including instructional and clinical guidelines, and access to scientific databases;

  
  

These tools are designed to strengthen the student’s theoretical and practical foundation, support self-evaluation, and promote an integrated and patient-centered clinical approach.

Office hours

See the website of Claudia Mazzitelli

See the website of Claudio Mazzotti

See the website of Angelica Bertacci

See the website of Stefano Chersoni

See the website of Marco Montevecchi