Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42505764›Full record

ReviewDentistry journal2026

Pediatric Dental Education in China: Current Status, Challenges, and Pathways to Improvement-A Narrative Review.

Yandi Chen, Yan Wang, Rui Shu, Mingmei Meng, Jing Zou, Qiong Zhang

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Dentistry journal, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yandi ChenState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Research Center for Educational Materials, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Yan WangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Research Center for Educational Materials, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Rui ShuState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Research Center for Educational Materials, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Mingmei MengState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Research Center for Educational Materials, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Jing ZouState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Research Center for Educational Materials, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.ORCID 0000-0002-3618-9672
Qiong ZhangState Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Center for Stomatology & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, National Research Center for Educational Materials, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

Funding

the Graduate Education and Teaching Reform Research Project of Sichuan University GSSCU2024107the Higher Education Teaching Reform Project of Sichuan University SCU10173the National Key Clinical Specialty Construction Project 0040305401313
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pediatric dental diseases, notably dental caries, malocclusion, and dental trauma, remain a significant public health challenge in China, exerting considerable impact on children's oral and general health. Despite growing societal demand for pediatric dental care, China faces a critical shortage and uneven geographic distribution of pediatric dentists, alongside persistent urban-rural disparities in access to oral health services. These challenges underscore the urgent need for educational reforms, workforce policy adjustments, and assessment of the strengths and limitations of recent training initiatives to enhance pediatric dental service delivery. This narrative review aims to: (I) describe the current structure of pediatric dental education in China and recent reforms, notably the integration of degree education with standardized residency training; (II) summarize the epidemiological burden of dental diseases among Chinese children, together with contributing social and geographic factors; (III) outline national policy initiatives targeting children's oral health and existing gaps in implementation; and (IV) discuss innovations in dental education, including student-centered pedagogies and humanities integration. This review provides a comprehensive overview of pediatric dentistry in China and offers strategic recommendations to strengthen workforce training, expand service access, and reduce the burden of pediatric oral diseases.

Indexed as

children’s oral healthChinadental educationhealth policypediatric dentistry

Identifiers

PMID42505764
PMCPMC13409527

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.