Summer Dental Camp, project of Kyiv Medical University, has come to a close

An extremely interesting and ambitious project at Kyiv Medical University – Summer Dental Camp – the first in Ukraine express-course of intensive practical training for international students has finally come to an end. The period of quarantine restrictions had a negative impact on the acquisition of manual skills for the future dentists, as well as on the teaching quality in general. However, we managed to give students the opportunity to catch up. In just 2 days, a small group was amassed for a personalized approach to each of the students, and starting from July 19, students came daily to the KMU Center for Simulation Training and Assessment to practice a large number of manipulations in various areas of dentistry on modern simulators.

During the first week, students learned the skills of professional and individual oral hygiene, dental anatomy, as well as preparation and filling of various classes of carious cavities. On the second week, they studied the correct application of the rubber dam, cleaning and filling of root canals, as well as the anatomy of the maxillofacial area with practical aspects, the nuances of the patient’s examination and methods of taking impressions with different impression materials.

There are total of 50 hours of practice left under the supervision of teachers-practitioners in various fields of dentistry. Teachers of the course – Viun Ganna Ihorivna, Diana Imadovna Bardavil, and Viacheslav Vladislavovich Dmytrashko – instilled the basics of modern methods of treatment in accordance with international standards and protocols and shared interesting teaching materials that will remain with students.

The training was based on the use of Smart Board, as well as the latest dental equipment. This was made possible by working with such a world-renowned brand of dental equipment and materials as Dentsply Sirona. Together with Oksana Dokashenko, Сlinical Affairs Specialists in Ukraine from Dentsply Sirona company, the students worked with a Cavitron Select SPS with a reservoir –  magnetostrictive ultrasonic device for removing dental plaque provided by Dentsply Sirona’s official distributor «Amelit Group» and its director Andriy Melnychenko. Students also gained manual skills in working with endodontic instruments ProTaper Next, ProGlider, endomotor X-Smart and stove for preparing obturators ThermaPrep2 oven. The skills of mastering the 3-D root canal obturation system “GuttaCore” provided an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of endodontic treatment.

These were two quite busy weeks, and in terms of not only practice, but communication, exchange of experiences and a relaxed vibe as well. We managed to create a friendly atmosphere in which students naturally absorbed skills and knowledge. Not to mention, on the first day of the Welcome Party students got to know each other better.

On June 30, 2021, all students received certificates and souvenirs in memory from the President of Kyiv Medical University – Oleksandr Valeriyovych Pokanevych, and expressed their warmest gratitude for the opportunity and wishes to conduct more such useful and interesting projects for more students.
Both students and teachers received an unsurpassed experience and many positive emotions – Summer Dental Camp has become a real center of modern student learning and communication for all its participants.

The course took place thanks to the direct support of the President of Kyiv Medical University – Oleksandr Valeriyovych Pokanevych, curator Kopchak Oksana Viktorivna, MD, Head of the Department of Therapeutic Dentistry and Periodontology and Viun Ganna Ihorivna, PhD, project organizer, Assistant of the Department of Prosthodontics and Orthodontics of the KMU.