Curricular Internship

The curricular internship (60 CFU credits) takes place alongside the study of dental disciplines. It includes a preclinical phase, which is preparatory for the clinical internship. While each clinical internship develops specific competencies related to the respective discipline, they all share the common goal of training students in oral health management—from prevention to diagnosis, prognosis, therapy, and rehabilitation—while complying with Italian and European medical-legal and ethical regulations. Each internship includes an assessment, which contributes to the final exam grade.

During clinical training, students must acquire professional competencies in odontostomatology by attending healthcare facilities for vocational learning activities. The compulsory internship is a guided teaching method that involves practical activities with increasing autonomy and professional simulations. At each stage, students work under the direct supervision of a Lecturer-Tutor, whose teaching functions are similar to those of tutorial-based teaching in coursework.

The clinical skills acquired are assessed according to defined criteria. The internship takes place throughout the academic year and falls under the responsibility of lecturers in charge of vocational teaching.

Practical-Evaluative Internship

During the Practical-Evaluative Internship (PEI), students must carry out activities in oral surgery, endodontics, implantology, paediatric dentistry, restorative dentistry, special care dentistry, orthodontics, periodontology, oral pathology and medicine, and prosthetics. The CFU credits are awarded after passing the relevant exams in the 6th year of study. Up to 30% of PEI credits can be obtained in the 5th year.

Taking into account current regulations governing dental activities within the Regional Health System, up to one-third of implantology/prosthetic/orthodontic activities may be performed on a simulator.

For each CFU credit allocated to the Practical-Evaluative Internship, students must complete at least 25 hours of vocational teaching activities as a first operator.

Host Institutions

The TPV must be carried out exclusively at university facilities or those within the Regional Health System (including hospitals and community healthcare facilities affiliated with the Regional Health System):

• SC Maxillofacial Surgery and Odontostomatology Clinic – Trieste (ASUGI)
• University-Managed Complex Structure of Paediatric Odontostomatology (IRCCS Burlo Garofolo)
• SSD Odontostomatology – Gorizia-Monfalcone (ASUGI)

Procedures

The TPV activities must be recorded in the dedicated software application (Easy Internship).

The TPV must be validated by the Degree Programme Coordinator with an explicit certification of:

• The number of internship hours within the TPV as the primary operator (minimum 600 hours).
• The total number of procedures performed as the primary operator.
• The number of correctly performed procedures (with an adequate level of autonomy, quality of execution, and execution time) as the primary operator.

Practical Evaluation Test

At the end of the TPV, a Practical Evaluation Test (PPV) is scheduled. This precedes the thesis defence and assesses the professional competencies acquired through the discussion of three multidisciplinary clinical cases completed by the candidate. The evaluation will result in a pass/fail outcome.

Provision of Internship Materials

During the degree course, most of the essential materials required for the internship will be provided. However, the purchase of specific materials may be necessary.

Evaluation (Questionnaires)

The evaluation questionnaires concerning students' assessments of tutors and tutors' assessments of students are automatically generated every two months by the EasyStaff software at the end of each internship rotation. These evaluations are processed every six months in an anonymous and aggregated form.