ACADEMIC LEVELING IN THE PRECLINICAL DISCIPLINE OF THE DENTISTRY COURSE
Abstract
The transition to higher education in Brazil is marked by heterogeneous academic backgrounds, reflecting gaps in basic education that affect students’ performance, particularly in health-related programs. In Dentistry, these challenges become more evident due to the complexity of early theoretical content and the need for foundational knowledge to support preclinical activities. This study aimed to analyze the effects of an academic leveling program on the learning outcomes of students enrolled in a preclinical dentistry course. A descriptive, exploratory, and quantitative study was conducted with 80 third-semester students distributed across four independent cohorts from 2019 and 2020. The leveling program included theoretical and practical modules, followed by a diagnostic assessment and a perception questionnaire. The results showed significant differences among the cohorts, with higher and more homogeneous performance patterns observed in the 2020 groups. Students reported high acceptance of the program, highlighting content clarity, theory–practice integration, and its relevance for academic adaptation. The findings suggest that the leveling program was associated with improved academic performance and positive student perceptions, indicating its potential as a strategy to support incoming students and reduce educational disparities in preclinical dentistry courses.
Author Biographies
Full Professor at the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Pará.
Resident in Hospital Dentistry at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
PhD in Endodontics from the University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Faculty Member at the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
Master's Degree in Public Health from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, RN, Brazil.
Undergraduate Student in Dentistry at the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
Undergraduate Student in Dentistry at the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
Undergraduate Student in Dentistry at the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
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