The "Four-step Approach" for Delivery of the Undergraduate Endodontics Experimental Course

Students' practical skills must be cultivated during undergraduate dental teaching and traditional theoretical examinations do not necessarily evaluate the relevant understanding and the application of knowledge. The current study aimed to produce a template with the potential for wider application for the improvement of practical dental teaching by applying a four-step approach to evaluating progress on an Endodontics course. Practical and theoretical examinations after one year's study via the four-step approach indicated significantly improved practical scores and no difference in theoretical scores compared with students taught by traditional methods. The suitability of the four-step approach, which incorporates continuous assessment and puts emphasis on practical skills, for dental education is discussed.