Micro-educational opportunities in outreach clinical dental education

Abstract

Outreach education at the University of Portsmouth Dental Academy is providing a valuable platform to offer students 'micro-educational opportunities'. Some of these are highly innovative experiences, which allow senior students across the dental team to take short periods of time away from the clinic to broaden their life experience. The maturity of senior students generates a significant added-value to their educational experiences with minimal loss of clinical time. Another important outcome, which echoes the Marmot review on Health Inequalities (2010), is the population of the City of Portsmouth, particularly the socially deprived, gain better access to oral health advice, prevention and treatment. Our experience suggests these opportunities enhance the undergraduate experience, equipping our new colleagues for a professional life in a changing and challenging environment.