Simulation as an educational bridge between the medical humanities and pediatric dentistry
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20453/reh.v36i2.7165Keywords:
pediatric dentistry, medical humanities, dental education, patient simulation, behavior and behavioral mechanismsAbstract
Training in pediatric dentistry requires balancing technical instruction with a humanistic approach, as clinical success depends largely on managing children’s behavior and the relationship with parents. This essay reflects on the role of medical humanities in pediatric dental education and proposes clinical simulation as a central pedagogical strategy. A literature-based narrative analysis is developed that addresses the value of medical humanities in dentistry, the particularities of behavioral management in children, and the potential of simulation to train communication, empathy, and ethical skills in safe environments. Furthermore, the recent experience of the Interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Simulation at Cayetano Heredia University in Peru is highlighted as a regional benchmark. It is concluded that humanistic simulation in pediatric dentistry constitutes a relevant tool for training technically and humanely competent professionals.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Natalia Maribel Paredes Flores
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