Dental students’ perspective on the distance education system during COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study

Background The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on education in a variety of settings, particularly medical and dental teaching institutes. During the pandemic, distance learning has become necessary to ensure that education continues. Objective The present study aims to analyze dental students’ perceptions of the transition of education from traditional to distance learning. Methods This was a cross-sectional study consisting of a 25-statement online questionnaire that was anonymously administered to students studying dentistry at Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India. The data collected were analyzed statistically via chi-square test. Results A total of 713 out of 800 undergraduate dental students participated in the survey, resulting in an 89.12% response rate. A total of 73.9% of the students did not feel that it was easier to concentrate in online classes than in offline lectures, and 60.9% of the students felt that they could not learn the theoretical aspects adequately. Almost three-fourths of the students (73.9%) felt that lockdowns and distance education severely affected the quality of their dental education. A total of 86.4% of the students felt that a lack of patient exposure would affect their future dental practice. With respect to learning preferences, the majority of the students preferred a combination of traditional methods and online learning. Conclusion Despite these difficulties, dental students were able to adapt to the new distance learning education system. The COVID-19 pandemic taught not only the use of technology in education but also future learning strategies.