Education of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in South Korea

Choi, Soon Chul

Abstract

Although x-ray had been used in Dental Clinic and taught as Roentgenology as a part of other lectures, the independent lecture was established at Seoul National University in 1953. The first independent Department was separated from the Department of Oral Surgery at Seoul National University in 1963. Nowadays, there are 6 national and 5 private dental schools in South Korea. Each dental school has a Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, which fulfills its role in student education and clinical service. What is specially noteworthy is that 8 of the 11 dental schools have changed or will change from the 2+4 year system to 4+4 year system (postgraduate course). The curriculum has also been or is being amended according to this change. Although the contents of courses for Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology are not much different among dental schools, the methods and structure of education are various. We have to do a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the present educational methods and structure of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and need to seek the new and more suitable ones based on competency.