Training, Experience, and Attitudes of Dental Students About Oral Biopsies: A Multicenter Cross‐Sectional Study in Latin America

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OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the training, clinical experience, and attitudes related to oral biopsy among dental students from Latin America. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 326 final-year dental students from universities in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela. Participants completed a structured, anonymous 35-item online questionnaire addressing demographic data, exposure to oral biopsy procedures, self-perceived knowledge and skills, and attitudes towards biopsy practice. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact test, and the Wilcoxon test, with a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Most students reported having received formal theoretical training in oral biopsy (89.9%). Only 53.4% had performed at least one biopsy during their undergraduate studies, with excisional biopsies being the most common. Despite a high level of agreement regarding the relevance of oral biopsy to clinical practice (p < 0.001), students demonstrated low self-confidence in performing incisional and excisional biopsies (p < 0.001 for both), particularly in lesions suspected of malignancy (p < 0.001). Prior practical experience was significantly associated with higher levels of confidence and more favorable attitudes towards performing biopsies (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Oral biopsy training among Latin American dental students is heterogeneous and largely theoretical, with limited practical experience contributing to reduced diagnostic autonomy and clinical confidence.

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