A Review of Learning Styles in Orthodontic Education

Learning styles among students of orthodontics has received very little importance as seen in the limited studies found in the literature. The learning styles of students form an essential part of knowledge acceptance and delivery. The present study, therefore, has identified and reviewed the learning styles used in orthodontic education to understand the methods followed by orthodontic training programmes and their implications on learning. The objective of this study is to summarise the different types of learning styles currently utilised by the faculty of orthodontics. A systematic electronic search was conducted revealing eight studies used in orthodontic training. The searches conforming to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines used Problem/Patient/Population, Intervention/Indicator, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) strategy for selecting the included studies. The number of studies included in this study was eight. The study analysed the different learning styles and their effects on knowledge and students’ attitude. The availability of a small number of studies underscores the need to review the limited resource available to gain a better understanding of how orthodontic residents learn. This study on learning styles among orthodontic students provides a platform for building more knowledge on the learning pathways currently employed. The learning styles have an enormous influence on knowledge acquisition and retention. The study highlights the need for further exploration of the learning needs of orthodontic residents in an attempt to reveal potential benefits both for the student and the teaching faculty.