Tooth loss is more precisely and accurately predicted by the combination of risk score and periodontal disease score than by either score alone. The combined scores may be a surrogate variable for periodontal status. Because the scores are derived from routine clinical measurements, they may be useful for population surveillance and dynamics, practice management, patient care decisions, practice-based research, and the determination of treatment effectiveness and the factors required for successful treatment, resulting in improved oral health and higher clinician productivity and income.

Empathy is the fundamental substructure of moral behavior. Skillful clinicians may not necessarily be successful dentists if they do not have sufficient empathy. The aim of this study was to assess the level of empathy among dental students at King Abdulaziz University with an emphasis on the effect of gender and study level. A cross‐sectional study was carried out among third‐ to sixth‐year dental students of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A validated, self‐administered Jefferson Scale of Empathy‐Health Care Provider Student Version was distributed in academic year 2016‐17 to all 380 students in the third to sixth years. A total of 300 students responded, for a response rate of 78.9%. The results showed that the students’ mean empathy score was 84.84±11.28 on a range from 20 to 140. The fifth‐ and sixth‐year students had higher scores than the third‐ and fourth‐year students although the differences were not statistically significant. The mean empathy score of women students was significantly higher (p<0.001) than that of men students, and the women demonstrated significantly better perspective‐taking (p<0.001) than the men. This study found that the students were empathetic and had a sense of moral obligation although their mean empathy score was not as high as expected. Integrating empathic, ethical, and professional elements into the dental curriculum is needed.

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