Views and expectations of sixth formers in Sri Lanka about dentistry and dental education.

Questionnaires were sent to thirty-one schools in various parts of Sri Lanka on the basis of schools from which the majority of dental students tend to enter. Responses were received from 1445 sixth formers in these schools. Various views common to a large proportion of the sample were identified, as well as differences between sub groups distinguished by sex, language, occupational background, and location of school. The results are intended to aid the teaching of subjects like community and preventive dentistry so as to avoid conflict with preconceived expectations of dentistry--based on traditional patterns of curative services--which students may bring with them into dental school. In this connection there were some hopeful signs of preventive orientation in the group studied.