Although the College of Dentistry at King Saud University has its mission in providing the education and training of undergraduate students, the College is obliged to take a leading role in continuous education and training of graduates in order to have efficient, ethical, compassionate, and clinically competent practitioners in the art and science of dentistry. The new graduate of dentistry is required to undertake a twelve-month internship as a fundamental requirement for full registration as a dental practitioner by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. Upon successful completion of the requirements, the candidate will receive a certificate of competence for the one-year internship training issued and sealed by the College of Dentistry, King Saud University. The essence of the Internship Program is to facilitate the metamorphosis of the closely supervised undergraduate student to the independent dental practitioner responsible for his own professional audit. It serves also as an essential buffer period for academic authorities as they can ensure that the undergraduate curriculum is fairly adequate and structurally sound.
The objectives of the Interns’ Training Program as officially approved by the Interns’ Training Committee are summarized as follow:
1. To improve their knowledge, skills and attitude in the practice of general dentistry. Emphasis will also be placed on treatment planning and decision-making as well as recognition of highly complicated cases and when to make consultation referrals.
2. To reduce dependency upon the direct supervision by a faculty member and to develop efficacy in time management and self-confidence in handling the complicated clinical situations.
3. To gain more experience in risk assessment, and management of medically compromised cases as well as emergency and primary dental care.
4.To develop the highest ethical standards in practice management as well as to cultivate and sustain proper attitude towards patients and dental personnel.
5.To introduce the actual dental practice including the different styles of practicing dentistry by exposing Intern to different working environments and clinic set-ups.
6.To improve the trainees’ verbal capabilities in addressing an audience as well as the skill in using audio-visual aids in formal lecture and seminar presentations.
7.To gain knowledge and skills in a number of areas not adequately covered in the undergraduate curriculum.
8.To provide an opportunity for each intern to explore and identify his/her particular area of interest in dentistry and to supply him/her with adequate information related to various career options.
9.To achieve the involvement of the interns in research projects and motivate them to generate original innovative ideas and develop their scientific writing ability, also to stimulate their interest in pursuing graduate studies and continuing dental education.