Through the looking glass: a review of the literature surrounding reflective practice in dentistry

Reflection is an essential component of the learning process that helps to elicit deeper learning. In healthcare, this uses experiential activities to produce knowledge that compels the clinician to change their practice. Deep reflection allows one to explore emotions associated with challenging learning experiences, empowering reinterpretation of these experiences and removing barriers to further learning. Reflection is a key requirement of dental education at all stages. This paper aims to explore the existing literature on reflective practice in dentistry and identify areas for further research to improve reflective practice within dentistry. Traditional methods of reflecting through written means are not facilitating the deep reflection which is desired. A systematic overhaul of reflective practice is suggested, involving a shift away from structured written reflections. There is little evidence to inform the most appropriate format for reflective practice in dental education. There is a need for further research to determine the effectiveness of reflective practice in dental education, particularly as a move away from structured written reflection to more creative reflective opportunities are encouraged. Greater exploration of barriers to reflection in dentistry is indicated, with consideration to how these may be overcome and a need to engage regulatory bodies in system-wide changes.