Abstract: General dentistry requires competence in multiple sub-specialties. Advanced training is a crucial approach to enhancing dentists' professional standards. Since 2011, the Department of General Dentistry,Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology has offered a one-year general dentistry advanced training program. This program is divided into two phases: the first phase (weeks 1~12) focuses on standardized skill training, while the second phase (weeks 13~48) emphasizes the development of comprehensive clinical thinking and skill refinement. To address issues in the first phase, such as monotonous training methods, lack of operational evaluation, and insufficient cultivation of patient-care awareness, this study designed a ″progressive teaching method″. This approach improved the process through hierarchical assessments and standardized scoring. The method was implemented with 18 trainees from the 2022-2023 grades, and its effectiveness was evaluated. Results showed a significant difference between the trainees' initial assessment scores [2.00 (1.00)] and their progressive assessment scores [4.25 (0.35)], P<0.001. The interquartile range decreased from 1.00 to 0.35, indicating improved homogenization of skills. Both instructors and trainees recognized the progress in professional skills. After clinical concept training, improvements were observed in the identification of the chief complaint tooth, systemic condition assessment, and the concept of cpatient-care awareness. This teaching method contributes to the homogenization of professional levels of dentists in the short term and lays a foundation for subsequent training.

Key words: Oral medicine, General dentistry, Continuing education, Progressive teaching method