Understanding the identification of frequent situations in oral medicine and dental radiology among dentistry students

Objective: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and self-confidence of Dentistry students from the Federal University of Pará in the fields of Oral Medicine and Dental Radiology. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 210 students from the 4th to the 10th semester, addressing frequent clinical situations. The study evaluated participants’ ability to recognize pathologies through clinical and radiographic examinations, identified knowledge gaps, and assessed diagnostic confidence. Statistical analysis included Chi-square tests and Spearman correlation. Results: A significant association was observed between the semester attended and the level of self-confidence, as well as a positive correlation between the number of correct answers and self-confidence. The topics with the highest accuracy rates were recurrent caries and mucocele, while the lowest performances occurred in the identification of inflammatory cysts and the recommended imaging exam for torus palatinus. Conclusion: The results reveal specific gaps in student training and highlight the need for curricular adjustments and the use of active methodologies to strengthen diagnostic competence.