Attitudes, Experience, and Self-Confidence of Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing Students in Small Animal Dentistry: A Survey Study.

This article focuses on the attitudes, experiences, and self-confidence of Swedish veterinary (V) and veterinary nursing (VN) students regarding small animal dentistry education. A survey of final-year students at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences revealed that while most students recognize the importance of veterinary dentistry and desire more education in the subject, only about 20% felt adequately prepared for their first day in practice. Veterinary students who had additional practical training with real dental cases reported significantly higher confidence in performing dental procedures than those without such experience. The study highlights gaps in practical training and confidence-building, recommending clearer Day One Competence guidelines and enhanced hands-on education to better prepare graduates for clinical practice and improve small animal dental care.