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ISSN (Print) 1013-9052
EISSN 1658-3558
The Saudi Dental Journal,
P.O. Box 52500,
Riyadh 11563,
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Tel.
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966-1-467-7328
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Fax.
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933-1-467-7308 /
966-1-467-7534
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Email
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saudidj@ksu.edu.sa
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SDJ
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Editorial
Importance of Basic Science to Dental and Medical Professionals
It
is known that the medical and dental professions are based on a solid
foundation of basic sciences. Basic science can be looked upon as the stem of a
tree and the different clinical disciplines as its branches.
From a personal experience, I noticed that the majority
of dental students have forgotten a great deal of their basic science
background right after graduation. A possible reason for not maintaining such
essential background is that students usually study these basic science courses
not because they believe that basic sciences are essential to their pro- fessional
practice, rather because the courses are pre-requisites for clinical courses
and students have to pass them. Students ought to study these basic science
courses with different attitude. An attitude of appreciating that basic
sciences are the essential foundations for proper clinical education and hence
for future professional success. Also, an attitude where basic sciences are
held as the essence of the spectrum of all major professional fields. Having
such attitude in mind, basic sciences background will be maintained or
preserved by the students well after graduation and during profes- sional
practice.
The need to maintain a firm grasp on basic sciences
is not merely essential for the undergraduate period, rather it is more
necessary for future profes- sional practice and/or higher studies. Basic sci- ences
serve as the guiding foundation upon which a professional addresses a clinical
problem.
The important role of basic sciences to profes- sional
practice and attaining students' proper attitude towards such knowledge can be
achieved when the overall teaching faculty, irrespective of their clinical
disciplines, emphasize the role of these sciences in their teaching, clinical
practice and course examination throughout the overall dental or medical
education of the students.
The Saudi Dental Journal is aware of the importance
of basic sciences to medical and dental knowledge. Hence, the Journal promotes
and encourages publishing articles of basic science research nature as well as
broadly founded in one or more of the basic sciences.
Nasir H. Al-Bagieh
Member, Editorial Board
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