Paper Title
“FOUNDATIONS IN DENTISTRY”- GENERAL DENTAL PRACTICE TAUGHT ON DIGITAL PLATFORM.

Abstract
Background: The Department of Dentistry and the Department of Distance Education CMC Vellore collaborated to create a short online program called "Foundation in Dentistry". This program was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to offer novice undergraduate students a chance to learn and enhance their professional skills. Aims and Objectives: This course aims to provide fundamental knowledge and practical skills for dental professionals. It focuses on patient-centred comprehensive care, building a positive doctor-patient relationship, basic practice management, and essential procedural skills for starting a dental practice. Need for Innovation: Dentistry is a unique profession that requires sound theoretical and practical training to start a dental practice. Traditional academic education overlooks the teaching of fundamentals and the nitty-gritty of general dental practice. The Foundations in Dentistrycourse aims to teach and fill in that knowledge and practice gap in the student’s understanding of practice preparedness. Teaching dentistry on a digital platform was necessary and innovative, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, which suspended clinical activities and training for all undergraduate students and new graduates. The course was conducted via the Zoom platform forfive weeks, which included six modules, taught by experienced dental faculty.Each session was designed to be interactive and engaging for participants to be actively involved. The course material and class recordings were made available to the participants, and their understanding was assessed by obtaining feedback, and online tests were conductedusingthe Moodle platform. A WhatsApp group was created for student and faculty interaction, exchange of information, and troubleshooting. The program was well-received and appreciated by the participants and is currently continued as a modified program, which includes a RISE -self learning program and weekly discussion with the subject experts. Lessons Learnt: Even though dentistry is a skill-based profession, the values and ethos of dental practice can still be imparted innovatively and effectively on a digital platform. Digital platforms can form an avenue to facilitate and assist in collaborative learning for all dental professionals. Keywords - Dentistry, Digital platform, Dental practice.