evaluating educational needs of shiraz pediatric dentistry department from graduated dentists’ viewpoint, shiraz dental faculty, 2009-2010

background: the graduated dentists who are working for the community health services are considered to be better judges to comment on the educational needs in accordance with the society prerequisites. the aim of this study was to investigate the educational provisions of the department of pediatric dentistry from the viewpoints of the graduated dentists of shiraz dental school. methods: a total of 100 questionnaires, were distributed among 100 graduates composed of three sections. the main part assessed the quality of the proposed process (clinical, theoretical or none) that they had learnt in their study years. in the final part they were posed a key question to evaluated their ability to perform pediatric treatments in the current practice results: a small percentage of them (%31.7) were able to perform pediatric treatments in their current practice despite the high score they have reported for their skills in routine dental procedure in their study years. there was no significant difference between acquired skill of students and their ability to perform pediatric treatments after graduation. conclusions: since performing pediatric treatment is somewhat obstinate, student tends to treat adult patients with more enthusiasm. therefore, they gradually forget their skills in pediatric dentistry “slippery slope of clinical competence”, it is named. recommend the ministry of health and human resources to give exclusive bonus, such as increasing salary and better facilities to the dentists practicing pediatrics.