The article is devoted to comparative analysis of the results of twoyear introduction of the Objective Structured Clinical Examination OSCE-1 for dental students of the third course at the Bogomolets National Medical University. Exam OSCE-1 consisted of 10 stations, two of which concerned general medical training of dental students, eight - special competencies in five dental disciplines. OSCE -1 in 2017/2018 189 students (78.4%) successfully passed, but 52 students (21.6%) did not. In 2018/2019 313 students of the third course of the Dental Faculty were passing to OSCE-1. It was 29.9% more than in the previous year. On the first attempt, 251 students (80.2%) passed the exam successfully, 62 students (19.8%) failed.Comparing the results of the OSCE-1 Dentistry for two years, it should be noted that students showed positive dynamics and achieved the higher level of success. In 2018/2019 with a minimum pass level of 80%, the success rate was 80.2%, and in the previous 2017/2018 year with a minimum pass level of 60% - 78.4%. Ukrainian students demonstrated a better result this year - 89.9%, which is almost 5% higher than last year. Conclusion: Objective Structured Clinical Exam (OSCI) is an effective way of assessing the practical competencies of third-year dental students.

The article investigates actual issues of introduction of elective disciplines to the educational process of dental students. According to the changes in the political, economic and social spheres of our country, the labor market requires the training of highly skilled specialists who have a high level of knowledge, skills and competences in a particular industry, could make decision in standard and non-standard situations, bear responsibility for them in the professional activity. That is why the importance issue of the development and formation of today’s education is the use of a competence approach.      Elective disciplines have an important role in the formation of the professional competences of future doctors and dentists. The purpose of the study was to reveal the expediency of teaching elective disciplines to students of the Faculty of Dentistry using the example of an elective discipline “Modern technologies in pediatric dentistry” for students of 5th student year. The blocks of elective disciplines that form a variable component of the Educational and Professional program of Dentistry are characterized. The content of the elective discipline “Modern technologies in pediatric dentistry” for students of the 5th year of the Faculty of Dentistry of Bogomolets National Medical University is analyzed. Thematic plans of lectures and practical lessons in the discipline are presented. It is emphasized, that the purpose of studying this elective discipline is the formation of professional competences necessary for high-quality dental treatment of children, including under general anesthesia. The elective discipline “Modern technologies in pediatric dentistry” was introduced into the educational process in 2022/23 acadrmic year and received favorable reviews from students. Further research involves an anonymous survey of students and teachers, interviews with graduates and employers with the aim of improving the content of electives disciplines and the level of their teaching at the departments